Cuba, P.R lead tourism growth, no mention of Ja

[evanovitch]

Cuba, Puerto Rico lead tourism growth, no mention of Jamaica
Published: Wednesday February 15, 2012 | 2:27 pm1 Comment

Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands led tourism growth in the Caribbean in 2011, says the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO).

The CTO made no mention of Jamaica, which in the past has shown strong stop-over arrivals annually.

At a press conference in Barbados this morning, statistics from the tourism entity showed the big four continuing the historical trend of leading the region.

The four countries, which combined to contribute a 4.2 per cent growth, are part of a subgroup which accounts for more than half of all arrivals to the Caribbean annually.

The Dutch Caribbean islands Curaçao and Aruba performed well according to the CTO, reporting robust figures of 13.9 per cent and 5.6 per cent increase in arrivals respectively.

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[evanovitch]

High airline fares stifling tourism sector – CHTA


High airline fares stifling tourism sector – CHTA president
Published: Monday January 23, 2012 | 2:24 pm1 Comment



President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Josef Forstmayr says the lack of competition in the regional airline industry is stifling the tourism sector.

According to Forstmayr the lack of a competitive and truly regional airline, regional tourism has been suffocated by outrageous ticket prices and a cumbersome and ill-conceived network.

He said there has to be a strong consensus by regional leaders and the public so that travel and tourism will receive the full support it needs as the Caribbean’s most vital export industry.

Forstmayr said regional travel is also being hampered by the inability of Caribbean nationals to move freely between their countries, without being subjected to visas, long immigration lines and other bureaucratic indulgences.

[SandiF]

Re: Cuba, P.R lead tourism growth, no mention of Ja

Just yesterday a friend telling me that he was checking flights to Jamaica in July and all the airlines were showing within the 600 dollars range. I thought that was very high, given the fact that July is a ways off.

[Nanook]

Re: Cuba, P.R lead tourism growth, no mention of Ja

From Duluth MN it is over $1,000.00.:


$1,040.04

Total Price

OUTBOUND

1:50pm

DLH

10:31am
Thu 12 Jul

MBJ

Multi-stop20h 41m

DTW2h 49m Layover

ATL10h 50m Layover

DL 42741
DL 1013
DL 357


NO WAY,

[Nanook]

Re: Cuba, P.R lead tourism growth, no mention of Ja

Oh my, note the 10 hour layover in atl. I used to get 12 hour layovers in Mpls but I knew peeps who would come pick me up and drop off. <span style="font-style: italic">sigh</span>

[Nanook]

Re: Cuba, P.R lead tourism growth, no mention of Ja

Same dates to San Juan was $854.00 and an 11 hour journey there and an 8 hour trip home. Well now, what would you decide?

[SandiF]

Re: Cuba, P.R lead tourism growth, no mention of Ja

nah... mi will have to go somewhere else that justifies the flight time and air fare.

i plugged in stl and vieques and got over 700 dollars for 8-9 hrs of travel time. that is just ridiculous for going to puerto rico.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Same dates to San Juan was $854.00 and an 11 hour journey there and an 8 hour trip home. Well now, what would you decide?



</div></div>

[Nanook]

Re: Cuba, P.R lead tourism growth, no mention of Ja

Sandi, my last trip to Jamaica was a 23 hour journey. I am not halfway across the world, but left from northern Minnesota. 11 hours seems like a cake walk!

[Gen]

Re: Cuba, P.R lead tourism growth, no mention of Ja

what I have noticed is that in the past you could book flights months in advance and get a good price, now it nuh matter when yuh book it the price high.

one lady a tell mi seh she a try guh paris and she a get price fi 1200.00 and that is months away off peak \0/

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just yesterday a friend telling me that he was checking flights to Jamaica in July and all the airlines were showing within the 600 dollars range. I thought that was very high, given the fact that July is a ways off. </div></div>

[Gen]

Re: Cuba, P.R lead tourism growth, no mention of Ja

sandi you sound like me

a long time now mi couldn't justify the price dem want charge fi guh yard and mi nuh do layovers.

guess wah nuh ? is like mi haffi guh eat mi words if mi waan guh yard or that part of the world cause dem not changing anytime soon. all when mi a try a ting from florida, the ny to fl leg sheg mi \0/.

mi just a guh eat mi words, but I need a little more time to mek it digest

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">nah... mi will have to go somewhere else that justifies the flight time and air fare.

i plugged in stl and vieques and got over 700 dollars for 8-9 hrs of travel time. that is just ridiculous for going to puerto rico.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Same dates to San Juan was $854.00 and an 11 hour journey there and an 8 hour trip home. Well now, what would you decide?



</div></div> </div></div>

[JAmerican Ooman]

Re: Cuba, P.R lead tourism growth, no mention of Ja

WOW.. Thats crazy and a 12 hour layover..

Used to be they dropped the prices like crazy during the summer because it was &quot;slow season&quot; and the hotels were filling up.

Once they find out they can't fill those seats at those prices, they will drop, but you gotta keep watch.. especially on Tuesdays starting at midnight...

I remember when I could go to Jamaica from Baltimore for $300.00.. That sounded about right for a three hour Trip.. Loved Loved Air Jamaica... felt like I was there with the first step on the plane.

Late November early December, I paid less than $500 for my ticket that was selling for $680 not two weeks before I left.

If you really must book now for July, BOOKIT.com will put you on a three month payment plan if you book your trip more than thirty days out. I have used that before for hotel and Airfare and it worked well.

WOW $1,000