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. (6 July 2001)
