Report by Jane Archer
THE CARIBBEAN Tourism Organisation is to discuss the impact
of higher aviation fuel costs on tourist numbers at a meeting with ministers
from the various islands
at World Travel Market today.
A spokeswoman said the CTO is concerned that visitor numbers
will fall if the cost of holidays increases.
All long-haul destinations are expected to suffer next year
as operators put up their prices to cover the increase in the cost of fuel,
which has risen by up to 5% over the past few months and helped to push several
airlines into the red.
Projected tourism capacity to the Caribbean has already been
cut by nearly 20% this winter compared to the same period last year, according
to figures from stastics specialist Nielsen HBS (Travel Weekly November
6).