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Caribbean


BEST OF THE CARIBBEAN


Tere really is something for everyone in the Caribbean and with more flights to the islands, and more hotels opening all the time, its popularity continues to grow. By Lucy Grewcock


Castaway beaches and emerald jungles,


volcanic peaks and simmering craters, pirate ships and sunken wrecks — the Caribbean’s 7,000-plus islands lure visitors with dazzling colors, sparkling sands and swaying palms. After a record year in 2016, when tourist


arrivals surpassed 29 million, visitor numbers have continued to grow faster than the global average. Te Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) states that international arrivals hit 8.7 million for the first quarter of 2017, up by 150,000 visitors on the same period in 2016. Te U.S. still leads as the primary market.


“Te Caribbean offers everything from adults-only hotels and intimate hideaways, to family-friendly options and all-inclusive mega resorts,” says Jack E. Richards, CEO of Pleasant Holidays. “Its proximity to the U.S. and the convenience of nonstop, low-cost flights on major airlines helps to drive demand.” 2017 has seen a flurry of new developments,


including Bermuda’s long-anticipated Baha Mar resort, which opened in April. Later this year, Park Hyatt’s first Caribbean resort opens on St Kitts; Sandals Royal Barbados launches in December; and the Caribbean’s second Nikki Beach restaurant opens at Port Ferdinand in Barbados. Air travel has been given a boost too. New


routes include Southwest’s daily service between Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) and Grand Cayman; and Delta’s new weekly winter service between Kennedy Airport (JFK) and St Kitts, which acts as a gateway to Nevis. Despite the region’s strengths, each island


strives to stay competitive. “To continue to woo travelers, we’re seeing an increase in overwater bungalows, beachfront villas, elaborate waterparks and more,” says Richards. Te sheer diversity and volume of


vacation options in the Caribbean can seem overwhelming. To put the region into perspective, we’ve earmarked a range of highlights for 2017 and beyond. ▶


Barbados beach ASTAnetwork | Fall 2017 | 85


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