qqq

This could either be a long lived thread or it may die today, but here goes........<BR><BR><BR>Just how busy are the Islands in the Caribbean Basin in regards to tourism?<BR><BR>I do not have any stake in this poll other than curiosity and a general interst in how the Island people are getting on given the current World climate of economy and politics.<BR><BR><BR>So what are your observations........<BR><BR><BR>When you are on vacation, ask your taxi man or favorite server at a meal how tourism has been this season.<BR><BR>Are tourists coming by plane and staying overnight, or by ship and staying only for the day.<BR><BR>Was the resort you stayed at busy?<BR><BR>Were the guests from the U. S. or Europe?<BR><BR>What else did you notice?<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Scott

I stayed at a small 23 unit condo complex this past March in Grand Cayman, and doubt if 1/4 of the rooms were occupied. We usually had the entire pool area to ourselves for the entire 10 days. Supposedly, March is a busier month, but not at this place...we loved it. The island itself seemed a bit more crowded than our first visit during May. There were definitely more cruise ships this visit, but we knew the schedules, and when to avoid town and other areas.

tivertonhouse

Through last fall, mass tourism was down 17% across the board in Caribbean;christmas-april and summer even look pretty solid if last-minute bookers. More telling for the region's economy is the disapperance of island farmers and livestock producers (dairy,in particular) as US/Mexico/Central American fruit and vegetable are now mass imported by distributors and sold for less than local production costs. US tariff wars on banana and sugar continue and the Euro market, looking to Africa for more suppliers, will further speed the change in land-use on food costs on island. Though shot 3-4 years ago, the PBS shown and repeated program 'Life and Debt&quot; ,focussing on Jamaica, is a real Cassandra for the Caribbean as a whole. Even Cuba is now converting sugarcane production to offshore computer CRM services...

Virginia

Barbados last Feb. Whenever I asked how things were going, I was told that the number of people visiting was down just slightly, but that the amount of money that was being spent, was down considerably.

xxxx

don't know that you can generalize for through out the Caribbean basin although when the economy stinks and war threatens, it has to have its impact across the board. The high rollers are still traveling and spending the bucks, the more modest traveler has cut back signifigantly and opting for cruises - which also brings in lots of $$ - and less expensive stays. Flights are overbooked but the reduction in flights also comes into play and some islands more than others are feeling the pinch. Over the Holidays the islands were busy, happy, warm and wonderful with good reports unlike the stores on the mainland. Priorities are changing and unless war drums stop beating and someone challenges the economic stimulus being developed, there will be harder times ahead for the moderate traveler. <BR>Staff and island residents depending on the tourist have been through some rough times and there's likely to be even more even though there was a bit of reprieve for the holidays. Presents were likely to be the trip instead of lots of boxes under a tree.