J
Joachim
Guest
DR counting on US travelers to replace dwindling Europeans
El Caribe reports that the Caribbean Tourism Organization has called an
emergency meeting in Barbados to discuss the decline of travel to the area.
Caribbean tourism averaged 6% growth last year, but the outlook is bleak for this
year. The DR is expected to grow around 5% this year, down from 12% last year.
The decline is primarily attributed to the slowdown in Caribbean source markets,
the United States and Europe. Furthermore, the high cost of petroleum and the
consolidation of European airlines have affected Caribbean destinations. Some
Caribbean islands depend on tourism for 70% of their revenues. Tourism makes up
20% of the DR?s Gross Domestic Product.
Pedro Dajer, speaking for the Ministry of Tourism, said that this year for the first
time more North American travelers will visit than Europeans. He said that travel
from the US is up 10% in the first six months of the year. He forecast that US
travel will increase from 36% of the total last year, to 46% this year.
El Caribe reports that the Caribbean Tourism Organization has called an
emergency meeting in Barbados to discuss the decline of travel to the area.
Caribbean tourism averaged 6% growth last year, but the outlook is bleak for this
year. The DR is expected to grow around 5% this year, down from 12% last year.
The decline is primarily attributed to the slowdown in Caribbean source markets,
the United States and Europe. Furthermore, the high cost of petroleum and the
consolidation of European airlines have affected Caribbean destinations. Some
Caribbean islands depend on tourism for 70% of their revenues. Tourism makes up
20% of the DR?s Gross Domestic Product.
Pedro Dajer, speaking for the Ministry of Tourism, said that this year for the first
time more North American travelers will visit than Europeans. He said that travel
from the US is up 10% in the first six months of the year. He forecast that US
travel will increase from 36% of the total last year, to 46% this year.