Caribbean tips

Award-winning dining meets beverage wizardry during Virgin Voyages' Eat & Drink Festival coming this July to all lady ships. 

The Bahamas proudly announces its selection as the host destination for Routes America 2025, a premier event in the aviation industry. The conference, slated for 10 – 13 February, will take place at Atlantis, Paradise Island. The conference represents a significant milestone for The Bahamas as it reinforces the destination’s commitment to enhancing global air connectivity and fostering sustainable tourism growth.

With Jamaica on track to attract 5 million visitors by 2025, local manufacturers are being urged by Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett to put themselves in a position to meet the increasing needs of the sector for products and services. The call has been made even as players in the industry, such as Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs), have grossed more than $1 billion since the Tourism Linkages Network, a division of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) implemented its annual Speed Networking initiative. The TEF is a public body of the Ministry of Tourism.

Civil unrest in Haiti has forced the Royal Caribbean Group to cancel all plans to visit its private destination in Labadee.

Jamaica hosted one million visitors and earned USD $1 billion in gross foreign exchange earnings in the first two months of 2024, building on a record 2023.

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Winter is back and if the winter blues have found you, turn them away with a trip to Sandals Resorts.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, has announced that Jamaica has welcomed one million visitors and earned one billion in foreign exchange in the first two months of the year. The numbers highlight the impressive growth trajectory of the country’s tourism sector. The announcement was made during a Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace press conference, held yesterday at the Jamaica Tourist Board office in Kingston.

In recent days, escalated strife in Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince has garnered attention from around the world. Given the rampant gang violence and a mass prison break on March 3, the U.S. State Department reiterated its Level 4 Travel Advisory (“Do Not Travel”), while the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince issued a security alert advising all U.S. citizens to depart the country as soon as they could.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett is driving future tourism investment for St. Thomas which is gearing up to become Jamaica’s newest tourist destination. In a meeting with German leisure, travel and tourism company, TUI Group, it was confirmed that the company is exploring expanding its footprints in Jamaica and is showing signs of interest to invest in St. Thomas.

Saint Lucia has proudly secured the title of Caribbean’s Best Corporate Retreat Destination 2023 at the 4th annual World MICE Awards. The accolade was given to the island during a huge ceremony held in Berlin. The World MICE Awards is renowned internationally for honouring excellence in the industry of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE). Through a Facebook post, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority announced the development and said that last year, the island played host to many distinguished conferences and retreats which solidified its reputation as a premier destination for such events. The Director for the United Kingdom and Europe, Patricia Charlery Leon and the Representative for Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Antje Rudhart accepted the accolade on behalf of Saint Lucia.

Jamaica has been named Global Destination of the Year at the renowned travel trade show, ITB in Berlin. The award was presented yesterday by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA). The PATWA is a nonprofit international media organization of travel writers founded in 1999 and the awards seek to recognize organizations, destinations/brands and individuals achieving the highest standards in their field. In accepting the award on behalf of the destination, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett said, “Jamaica is known for its food, music and indeed love so we are humbled to be recognized for these experiential offerings to our visitors that provide meaningful memories.”

The Turk and Caicos Islands has emerged as the best-performing destination in the Americas for 2023.

JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announces the opening of the first Marriott International luxury hotel in St. Maarten: JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa. Nestled in a tropical haven exuding multicultural charm, JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa embodies the brand’s mindful ethos, offering travelers an enriching Caribbean retreat that nourishes the mind, body, and spirit. “JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa marks our debut in this striking corner of the Caribbean, not only punctuating our incredible growth in the region, but also strengthening our global presence,” said Bruce Rohr, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, JW Marriott. “JW Marriott is committed to anchoring in premier destinations worldwide and this property seamlessly blends JW Marriott’s guiding wellness principles and luxury amenities, with locale-forward complements and tropical warmth closely in tow. We are poised to reimagine the hospitality landscape in St. Maarten and are eager to welcome guests to our newest jewel.”

The Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) has bestowed the prestigious title of Global Tourism Icon upon Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the tourism industry. This esteemed accolade, that was presented yesterday (March 6), comes as a testament to Minister Bartlett’s relentless dedication to promoting sustainable tourism practices, fostering cultural exchange, and advancing the tourism sector on a global scale. He has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at enhancing visitor experiences, building resilience and creating economic opportunities for local communities through tourism.

THE importance of the German market to Tobago has been underscored by THA Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation Tashia Burris.

Hilton is poised for another breakthrough year in the region with 2024 expected to bring first in market openings across multiple brands, including the highly anticipated Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Cacique and Zemi Miches All‑Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton .

Marriott International saw an expansive growth of its business across Latin America and the Caribbean in 2023, an important segment that drove its overall record business and development pipeline for the year. 

A new flight connection calls for a landing ovation – and a new set-jetting package for Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts guests – as the first-ever U.S. commercial flight descends upon majestic Ocho Rios, Jamaica on February 24th. In homage to the swift and seamless journey directly into the Caribbean Riviera, Sandals’ and Beaches’ new “Love and Let Fly” package transcends traveler wanderlust from the silver screen to the golden Jamaican beaches coveted for decades by film producers and vacationers alike. MORE TIME TO ‘BOND’, LESS TIME IN TRANSIT

In an extraordinary display of the strength of our country’s tourism sector, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation is proud to announce record-breaking visitor arrivals for 2023, which exceeded the forecasted projections. Surpassing all previous records, the nation welcomed a total of 9,654,838 visitors in 2023, marking a historic milestone in its journey as a leading global tourism destination. This figure represents a 38% increase over 2022 and a 33% increase compared to the previous 2019 record.

Experience Turks and Caicos is pleased to announce that the Turks and Caicos Islands has once again been nominated in multiple categories in the World Travel Awards. The nominations for the 2024 Awards are in the following categories: