TTC Special: Cruises and innovations in Tokyo 2020
If there is something true in world tourism, it is that the great sporting events and the so-called leisure industry are strongly linked.
Point of view: More than 620,000 Cubans living abroad visited the country in 2019
Photo: TTC Published by Granma International Despite measures implemented by the United States government since the end of 2017, intended to limit bilateral relations between the two countries -including the suspension of consular services in Havana; the expulsion of 17 diplomatic officials from our embassy in Washington, using unjustifiable and politically motivated pretexts; and recently the suspension of flights to nine destinations in Cuba - ties between the émigré community and the homeland have not been eliminated. This is confirmed by the fact that a total of 623,831 Cubans living abroad visited the country in 2019, "evidence of the strengthening of ties between Cuba and its citizens," said Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who added on his Twitter account that 552,816, of that total, came from the United States. Hostile U.S. actions, which remain in effect, hinder the normal flow of Cubans traveling abroad and those traveling to Cuba, [...]
Cuba to Host Iberian-American Summit of Accessible Tourism 2020
Photo: manaemedia/123RF Cuba will be the official venue of the 4th Iberian-American Summit of Accessible Tourism, convened for September 2020. This was announced during the opening ceremony of the third edition of this event, recently held in Montevideo, Uruguay, reported hosteltur.com. “The 4th Iberian-American Summit of Accessible Tourism will have as every year exhibitors and top-level experts in the field of accessibility and tourism. We also aim for it to be a meeting of tour operators specialized in accessibility issues worldwide; we hope Cuba can present its accessible product. I reiterate that along this path, the Iberian-American Network and the Spanish Network of Accessible Tourism will support Cuba, we believe and trust that Cuba will be one of the most important hosts that this Summit has had,” said Diego González, president of both networks.
Saint Lucia introduce a tourist accommodation fee
Following consultations with stakeholders in the industry, Government will be introducing a tourist accommodation fee to be used for destination marketing and development.
Antigua and Barbuda is the Caribbean Destination of the Year for 2020 as it sets new tourism record
Most people tend to choose the Caribbean for their family vacations. Well-known islands like Jamaica, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic usually make it to the top of the list.
CARICOM heads chided for lack of sports investment
Photo: rawpixel/123RF Caribbean heads of governments have been accused of not keeping pace with their sportsmen and women because the politicians are failing to provide facilities to support athletes consistent with their worldwide successes. So said Jamaican sports administrator, Dr Michael Fennell, as he addressed the recent Barbados Olympic Association 2019 awards ceremony. Fennell, a water polo player in the 1959 joint West Indies Pan Am Games team, and former president of the Jamaica Olympic Association wants to see discussions on sports given priority during CARICOM Heads of Governments meetings. “When you look at the status of sports in the Caribbean and what we are doing about the development of sports, I am very concerned. I am concerned because although we have done well and continue to do well, it is almost by accident because we have not truly invested in sports in the Caribbean,” he said while asserting [...]
TTC Special: Sacred places within tourist’s reach
Foto: Mac Beláir/123RF By Frank Martin TTC Service.-Religious tourism is increasingly important in the smokeless industry because it allows visitors to know intimate aspects of destinations cultures. The itineraries of the worldwide cruise ships prove that numerous routes that touch those places. According to statistics, these companies maintain more than 100 cruise itineraries that provide access to sacred places: healing sites, guidance and divine inspiration that are found everywhere. Believers seek to visit those places in person in search of healing, guidance or divine inspiration. Tourists who love to get into the cultural and original concepts of the destinations they visit, accompany them, making these trips a fabulous business- The cruises make the visit possible for people of all ages and abilities. It is what happens in the Caribbean. In Jamaica, for example, religion is a way of life. In the little Anguilla, a guide to “Places of worship” [...]
Point of View: Canada’s Love Affair With Cuba Continues
Photo: TTC Jim Byers, Travel Pulse The Cuba Tourist Board says Cuba has officially welcomed more than a million Canadian visitors over the course of the 2019 travel season. Following in the foot steps of a very strong 2018, the confirmation of this accomplishment came on December 4th, the exact day as last year's 1,000,000 Canadian arrivals achievement was met. “Coming off of the highly anticipated Havana 500 celebrations, there is a heightened excitement and energy in the air,” said Lessner Gomez, Director of the Cuba Tourist Board. “We are both excited and humbled to have had the opportunity to accommodate so many guests in 2019 and look forward to sharing the unique spirit of Cuba with more of our Canadian friends in 2020.” Cuba continues to be an intriguing, rich in culture and dynamic destination for all travellers. It was the opening of brand-new luxury hotels, the investment [...]
A Climate Change-Driven Dengue Outbreak Has Been Described As The Caribbean’s ‘Worst Medical Crisis Ever’
Photo: Mr.Smith Chetanachan/123RF In January 2019, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) warned the Caribbean region of an expected spike in dengue fever and called on communities to exercise caution and support the elimination of mosquito breeding sites to help combat the virus. A full year later, the number of individuals in the Americas having contracted the mosquito-borne virus is approaching 3 million with at least 1,372 recorded deaths— the highest number of cases on record. The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and other experts have pointed to climate change as one of the leading causes for the surge in numbers, with poor environmental management and increased adaptability of mosquitoes listed as other causes. Dengue is transmitted by a bite from an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. Source: Forbes
Cuba received a tourism award in China
Photo: TTC Cuba received an award in China as a high-potential tourist destination, due to its growing prestige in the sector. Cuban Consul in Shanghai Nestor Torres received the prize, granted by the specialized magazine Travelling Scope in the 2019 edition of its Stars Awards. The publication, which was founded more than 30 years ago, is one of the main magazines of its kind in China and is distributed nationwide. Torres told Prensa Latina that the award is an important acknowledgement of Cuba’s tourism sector, where new hotels have been built, attractions have been diversified and growth is expected in 2020. Source: Escambray