The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association has an optimistic outlook for the recovery of the region’s tourism sector, according to new CHTA President Pablo Jose Torres Sojo. 

Torres, who was speaking during a series of presentations to travel and tourism stakeholders this week, said tourism was the region’s best hope for recovery and renewal. 

“While the tourism industry and economies are challenged in unprecedented ways, the Caribbean tourism industry is not a stranger to crises, and there is every reason to believe that it will continue to show its resilience and it will rebound,” he said. 

For now, the pandemic is “accelerating changes in customer behaviors that are forcing tourism-related businesses to adapt to a new reality,” he said. 

That means the region needs to continue strengthening its health and safety protocols and train industry professionals in new technologies. 

For now, the vast majority of the Caribbean’s tourism destinations have reopened to the region’s key source markets of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, with more and more destinations reporting growth in tourism arrivals. 

— CJ