Caribbean Tourism Month 2020: #TheCaribbeanAwaits
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) celebrates this year’s Caribbean Tourism Month with the theme “The Caribbean Awaits”.
Neil Walters, the CTO’s Acting General-Secretary, said that the theme chosen compliments the region’s success in generally containing the spread of COVID-19 which has taken a major toll on tourism along with other sectors of our economies
“Caribbean countries have taken the required steps to protect our citizens and residents, conducted the required training to prepare our tourism and related frontline workers for the return of visitors and put the health protocols in place to reassure our potential visitors and residents that we take their health seriously. This has been the groundwork, and now we seek to rebuild the sector.”
Walters said that the region still observes tourism month even if COVID-19 is still affecting travel and as world continue to await a vaccine.
“The impact on tourism has been immense – a 57 per cent decline in arrivals during the first six months of 2020, an estimated 50 per cent to 60 per cent fall in visitor spend, and tens of thousands of jobs lost. Those still employed have, in several cases, accepted reductions in working hours and wage cuts.”
However amid the pandemic taking, the resilience of the Caribbean is shown with the resumption of tourism activity across the region.
“Currently, about 25 Caribbean countries have reopened their borders to commercial travel, either fully or partially, and others are putting the necessary measures in place to welcome visitors. This year’s theme further compliments the reopening of our borders, as the clarion call ‘We welcome you’ speaks to the fact that the Caribbean is the perfect place for those who have begun to travel or are thinking of travelling soon, to find solace in a place that is an oasis of health at this time.”
Walters in closing said that all must remain vigilant and constantly adjust to this new normal.
CTO, in conjunction with its members, has planned a number of social media activities in observance of the celebration. The public is encouraged to participate and to share the hashtag, #TheCaribbeanAwaits.