The current trend on the Caribbean Tourism marketplace is improving on a quicker pace than the specialists had predicted. At the same time, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is encouraged by the data from their member countries. Especially, those who have worked tirelessly to contain the coronavirus and reopen their economies.

The first quarter of 2021 showed a 60 % of decline compared to the same period last year, but a reverse on this trend is perceived at the end of March 2020.

This is being demonstrated by a decrease in the levels of decline which the Caribbean has been recording for the past fifteen months. The first quarter of 2020 was the last period of regular levels of travel. When 7.3 million international overnight visitors (tourist arrivals) visited the region. In January and February 2021, arrivals to the region declined by just over 71 %. Specifically, when compared to the same two months last year. However, the 16.5 % drop in March 2021 compared to March 2020 is an indication of a level of reversal of the trend of declining numbers of tourist arrivals.

Image by Michelle Raponi from Pixabay

The data collected from twelve Caribbean destinations reporting tourist arrivals for April 2021 shows that each of these destinations registered growth. As compared to April 2020, when tourism activity was curtailed globally. Similarly, tourist arrivals bounced back in the destinations reporting data for May. It must be pointed out, however, that the number of stay-over visitors is still below the 2019 levels.

The CTO is guardedly optimistic about the prospects for summer travel, and for the rest of the year into 2022.

Beside the relatively good times ahead, the fact that the pandemic is still a factor on UK and the US, two of the Caribbean’s major source markets. These are signs that the virus remains a major threat which can quickly reverse any progress observed.

By: Digital Dominium read the original article at https://sflcn.com/caribbean-tourism-organization-guardedly-optimistic-about-summer-travel/

Cover Image by Leonardo Rossatti on Pexels