August 6, 2007
AP
Fewer Americans are choosing Caribbean vacations as the market sets sights on more unique experiences in holiday travel. – File
The turquoise waters and white-sand beaches of the Caribbean appear to be losing some of their allure for United States tourists.
Americans who flocked to the islands in record numbers until recently are finding new destinations or staying home, leading to declines of more than 10 per cent this year in islands including Jamaica, St. Lucia and Grenada.
Governments have aimed marketing pitches at Canada and Europe to compensate for slippage in the American market, which accounts for about 60 per cent of the region’s vital tourism business.
“The trickle-down effect is huge,” said Richard Kahn, a spokesman for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO). “In the long run, this could mean the loss of jobs throughout the Caribbean.”