CTO to voice concerns over fuel cost impact

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).