CTO optimism about summer travel decline improves

Summary BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Pent-up demand is picking up much earlier and faster than initially forecast, the Caribbean Tourism Organization says. As the summer of 2021 approaches, the organization is encouraged by the data from its member countries. While a 60% decline in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year may not seem encouraging at first glance, the CTO said a closer inspection would show that the region was starting to reverse a downward trend that began in March 2020, early in the pandemic. . BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Pent-up demand is "picking up" much earlier and at a slower pace than initially forecast, Caribbean Tourism Organization says Much faster. As the summer of 2021 approaches, the organization is encouraged by the data from its member countries. While a 60% decline in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year may not seem encouraging at first glance, the CTO said a closer inspection would show that the region was starting to reverse a downward trend that began in March 2020, early in the pandemic. .

Decline levels in the Caribbean have declined over the past 15 months. The first quarter of 2020 was the last period of normal travel, when 7.3 million international overnight tourists visited the region.

Yangyi-2021.12.20

In January and February 2021, compared with the same period last year, the number of arrivals in the region dropped by more than 71%. However, March 2021 was down 16.5% compared to March 2020, suggesting that declining visitor numbers are finally improving.

Data collected from 12 destinations that reported tourist arrivals in April 2021 show that each destination experienced growth compared with April 2020, when global tourism activity was reduced. Likewise, tourist arrivals rebounded in May's destination report data. However, the CTO pointed out that the number of overnight tourists in 2019 was still below the corresponding level.

In addition, recent statements from major airline partners have also boosted optimism about the region. British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle and the airline's Caribbean vice president of sales Christine Valls both spoke of the high level of interest in travel to the region.

Canada will launch Caribbean routes this summer, with Air Canada already offering some flights from Toronto and Montreal, with more flights coming next month. Sunwing also plans to launch its first flights to Cancun, Punta Cana, Varadero and Montego Bay within this month. Transat, meanwhile, will resume operations on July 30 and will fly to nearly 50 destinations this winter, including the Caribbean.