FEATURE CARIBBEAN ISLAND BY ISLAND


Tourism Update


CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANISATION


The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) is looking forward to meeting Selling Long Haul readers on its stand (CA4400) in the Caribbean Village, at World Travel Market at London’s ExCel Exhibition Centre (November 7-10).


Similarly, agents are invited to the


CTO's Travel Agents Training Day at WTM, on Wednesday November 9, from 10.00-17.00. They will have the opportunity to network with Caribbean ministers of tourism and government officials, airlines, hoteliers, ground handlers and celebrities from throughout the Caribbean region. We have planned an educational,


informative and fun day, which will start with presentations on the Caribbean, a hosted lunch followed by a Caribbean treasure hunt in the Caribbean Village area. Those present will be able to win


some great prizes – and will be entertained at our popular Caribbean Street Party, put on in association with the Trinidad & Tobago Tourist Office. To join this promotion, please contact Ann-Marie Brooks on 020 8948 0057, or abrooks@ caribtourism.com for a registration form. If you would like to receive a free


information pack on the Caribbean Training Programme, please contact Ann-Marie Brooks at the CTO London Office on 020 8948 0057.


of the region's most enduring and


captivating images. This Eastern Caribbean island, the largest of the Windward archipelago, is also home to an active volcano you can drive through. Visitors can gaze at the sulphur springs that bubble and steam on the surface of the caldera from viewing platforms. Marigot Bay is another beauty spot, a natural harbour lined with marinas and swanky properties. Saint Lucia is an island that will


particularly appeal to active types: suggest mountain biking and hiking along rainforest trails. What’s New: The innovative Our Planet, interactive multi-media centre, opened in June 2011 in the capital, Castries. With the aim of promoting environmental awareness and conservation, special effects include movies that create the sensation of travelling through a kaleidoscope.


ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Lying south of St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, an archipelago of 32 islands, stretch for 45 miles towards Grenada. The eight inhabited islands promise seclusion, idyllic beaches and natural wonders. St Vincent has black volcanic sand beaches and an active volcano with a hiking trail to its summit. The island also saw the addition of its


first five-star property this year, Buccament Bay Resort. Its neighbour, Bequia, a short hop away, has pristine beaches, a bustling main town


Above: Colourful sails in Antigua 58 November 2011 • www.sellinglonghaul.com


and a rich maritime history. In contrast, Mustique is an exclusive


hideaway for the rich, famous and secretive, while Young Island, Palm Island and Union are private island resorts ideal for honeymooners. The nation’s must-see for keen divers,


birdwatchers and snorkellers is Tobago Cays, a group of islets set in impossibly clear waters and shielded by a horseshoe-shaped coral reef. What new: St Vincent’s new Argyle International Airport is expected to open in early 2013. It will replace the existing E.T. Joshua Airport, be able to cope with five times its passenger traffic and open the way for direct international flights from the UK.


TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO The southern-most of the Caribbean islands, Trinidad and Tobago lies just off the coast of Venezuela. Tobago, the little sister of the two measuring 16 square miles, is the holiday hub with fabulous picture- postcard perfect beaches and all- inclusive resorts aplenty. Tobago is also a prize snorkelling and


diving destination with coral reef and drift dives. Trinidad also has some fine beaches, but tourism isn’t the key industry here, offering visitors the chance to see a totally different way of life in the Caribbean. The island is also home to the


region’s biggest party, Carnival, which takes place in February. The capital, Port of Spain, is a hive of activity with markets, gingerbread houses, office blocks and colonial


mansions cheek by jowl. Beyond lies a natural wonderland


with rainforest trails leading to waterfalls and wooden boat rides through mangrove swamps revealing an array of birdlife. What’s New: A new eco-tourism initiative opened this year on Trinidad's north-eastern tip. A two-kilometre trail leads visitors around the wild Galera Point, with views of the headland and glimpses of sister island, Tobago.


TURKS AND CAICOS This archipelago of over 40 islands and cays forms a long chain south of the Bahamas. Only eight are inhabited and Providenciales is the hub of tourism. It boasts Grace Bay, a 12-mile beach


frequently voted one of the best in the world in travel polls. Offering both B&B and all-inclusive accommodations, the island is a good choice for families who want to get off the Caribbean’s beaten track. A premier attraction is Conch World, the world’s only conch farm. Wildlife enthusiasts who book for


February also have a good chance of seeing migrating whales. Turks and Caicos is surrounded by


the world’s third-largest coral reef, making it a great destination for snorkellers and divers. Cockburn Town on Grand Turk, the country’s capital, has quaint, colonial architecture while secluded Parrot Cay is perfect for honeymooners. What’s New: The runway extension completed at Providenciales airport this summer means the island is now able to accommodate direct transatlantic flights. •


C M Y CM MY CY CMY K


©CTO


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76