Even Dutch-speaking Suriname is getting in on the act, urging Bajans to come over.
Representatives from Suriname, Guyana, Jamaica, St Vincent, the British Virgin Islands and several other countries were in Barbados April 25 and 26, trying to drum up regional business while attending the fifth annual Rediscover The Caribbean Show.
Chairman of the board of directors of the Suriname Tourism Foundation, Dr Jan van Charante, said the Caribbean had the advantage that its people could "make close, short flights and visit each other and enjoy each other".
More pressure
Organiser of the show, hotelier Adrian Loveridge, told the MIDWEEK NATION: "It is envisaged that there will be more pressure on long-haul flights because of rising fuel prices.
"The price of fuel, it's projected that it will go up to US$200 a barrel and that will have an effect on our traditional markets, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
"Therefore it's even more important to promote inter-Caribbean travel because this is a market that's on our doorstep and while we have seen increases in airfares they are nothing like the airfares we might experience in the carriers that serve onger distances."
Jamaican tour promoter Andrew Sharpe of Authentic Caribbean Holidays said a time of threatening higher airfares was a good time for Caribbean countries to promote the region as a single destination and to urge regional people to take holidays close to home.
More airlift
"We need more airlift and lower cost fares," he said. "A Jamaican can travel to Miami for less than US$300 while the fare to Barbados is US$330."
Loveridge pointed out that the Caribbean is Barbados' third largest market, accounting for almost 100 000 visitors last year.
"If we let this market fail, then we can become totally dependent on North America and Europe and that's the danger," he remarked. "We only need something to go wrong to affect that market and our entire product will be affected."
Guyana used the local show to promote the Caribbean Festival
The Jamaicans used it to promote the annual music showpiece Reggae Sumfest July 13 to 19, while St Kitts and Nevis advertised the 12th annual St Kitts Music Festival, set for June 26 to 28.
St Lucia's Village Inn & Spa, Grenada's Flamboyant Hotels and Villas, the Small Hotels of St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Small Hotels of St Lucia, Guyana's Evergreen Adventures, the British Virgin Islands Tourism Authority and several other tourism promoters took part in the Barbados show.
It was the first time that Suriname was officially represented at the show. (TY)