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Cuba tops in Canada visits
Published on: 2/9/2010.
CUBA is surpassing Barbados in tourist arrivals from one of this country's primary markets.
According to statistics released by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), of the 1.87 million stay-over visitors to Cuba last year, over 700 000, or 39 percent, were from Canada.
Barbados, on the other hand, recorded Canadian arrivals of just 12 percent for the same period.
However, director of Research and Information Technology at the CTO, Winfield Griffith, told a Press Conference at the CTO's Collymore Rock headquarters yesterday that when one examined the main markets from which the region's business was drawn, Canada had remained "robust despite some weakening in that economy".
Meanwhile, tourist arrivals in the Caribbean are on the rebound.
Griffith said while there had been a 3.6 percent decline in aggregate tourist arrivals to the 33 CTO member countries last year, quarterly data showed successive improvements with a one percent increase in the last quarter of the year.
And, he added, Barbados and the larger CARICOM countries had "fared relatively better than the smaller ones". Cuba, Jamaica and Guyana showed "moderate increases", Griffith said.
Conceding there had been "many challenges in the region's tourism sector, Griffith observed "the redeeming feature of the whole tourism business in the Caribbean has been the high level of activity which has persisted in the face of the (global) economic crisis".
Griffith projected a "promising outlook" for this year despite what he described as " threats of some negative fallout" from increases in the Airline Passenger Duty (APD), which resulted from the new banding system recently introduced by the British government.
This was expected to "impact disproportionately on some sections of the region". (GC)
5 comment found!
Canadian Visitors : 2/9/2010
We are returning to Barbados in March. As for getting a deal, the seat sales with WestJet and Air Canada have been excellent this winter, you just have to be diligent and keep checking. Three main reasons we choose Barbados over Cuba: English, Water that we can drink from the tap, and safety. And of course the lovely people, beaches, weather and well, just about everything!
Cuba is cheap : 2/9/2010
I'm a Canadian with Bajan roots- have been to Bim countless times and Cuba, once. There's no question that Bim is a superior destination with excellent offerings and amenities- the people, the culture, the food, etc. Anyone that I've spoken with who has been to both islands agree. But Cuba is a much cheaper destination and 'perceived' as a better value, especially for families. Unfortunately, you'll find that most Canadians prefer all inclusive packages and can travel to Cuba or Mexico (over Barbados) for a quarter of the price. The Cuban vacation experience doesn't compare to the Bajan one, but they try hard and have it priced right (for what you get). Barbados is a higher-end destination.
The latest Median Household Income for Canadians is around $63K. After taxes, it's ridiculous to think that a large number of people are going to pay $2-5K each for a week's vacation. Perhaps the BTA should consider working with the air carriers (Westjet, AC) and try and tighten the price spread between the two destinations.
Cuba : 2/9/2010
Well, I return to visit Barbados once or twice a year, bringing my family and friends. I know Canadians want a beach holiday and sunshine but they also want a deal. I've been yearning to visit Cuba myself and the rates are terrific compared to Barbados. One can depart for 7 nights from Toronto to Cuba for under $500 each person, all inclusive at times. I'm sure it's not as developed or lovely as Barbados but it's easy on the pocketbook. By comparison, my Christmas 2009 three week holiday to Barbados was over $10,000 for two adults and one child.
: 2/9/2010
What would you expect when Barbados through the BTA has no vice president for the important Canadian market!? I would bet that Cuba, Jamaica and the other leading countries all have several high level executives in Canada working on ideas and promotions to attract even more people to their shores.
On the other hand rather than consolidate and position Barbados for the end of the Global recession, the BTA continues to wait and react, rather than being proactive. Imagine, no Vice-president in Canada, The USA, Europe and I would not be surprised if one was also missing from in action from the UK as well!! While Barbados is beautiful and safe, this message needs to be spread to the world!
Come on BTA, your country needs you!
12%??? : 2/9/2010
The 12% in paragarph 3 is confusing......12% of what? 12% of Barbados visitors were from Canada? Why not just give us the actual figure of Canadian visitors so that we can compare that with the figure for Cuba?
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