A downturn in intra-regional travel across the Caribbean cost the region over US$1 billion in 2021.
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) recommended concerted efforts by Caribbean government and private sector leaders to boost intra-regional travel.
While international travel to the region has rebounded to 75% of pre-pandemic levels, intra-regional business and leisure travel has stagnated at around 30%.
Smaller Caribbean economies have been hit particularly hard, according to CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig.
Among the steps proposed to revitalize local economies were increasing services to revive regional air travel, reducing Covid-19 testing costs, cutting testing time, and cutting long isolation periods.
CHTA also recommends an air travel tax/fee holiday or reduction, similar to that which was proposed to Caribbean leaders by Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
Additionally, more uniform and consistent regional travel protocols would reduce traveler uncertainty CHTA says.
