Black Meetings and Tourism

January / February 2019

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SEABORNE, CAPE AIR INCREASE FLIGHTS TO ST. CROIX The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism has embarked on a marketing initiative with Seaborne Airlines and Cape Air to promote new flights between San Juan and St. Croix, helping to meet the demand for travel to the island. On Seaborne Airlines, the San Juan-St. Croix route saw an increase from two to three daily flights beginning on December 20, 2018. Then, on January 8, 2019, Seaborne will increase its frequency from three flights to six daily flights. In January, Cape Air will start ramping up its operations to an average of six daily flights between San Juan and St. Croix, increasing the number of seats by about 50 percent. The additional flights during the peak winter season will more than compensate for the 100 seats lost with the discontinuation of daily JetBlue Airways service effective January 8, 2019. While passengers will no longer be able to fly to St. Croix on JetBlue's aircraft, flights can be booked via JetBlue through its codeshare relation- ships with both Seaborne and Cape Air. The Department also announced it would be increasing its market- ing of LIAT flights to St. Thomas with connections over Antigua. ABOUT THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VistUSV.com, follow them on Instagram @visitusvi and become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI. When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel - including on-line check-in - making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, trav- el to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. cit- izens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry require- ments for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens. THE ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS SNAGS TWO TOP BEST CARIBBEAN AWARDS The Islands Of The Bahamas continues to dominate tourism in the Caribbean. So says Caribbean Journal, which bestowed on the destina- tion two key awards in its Caribbean Travel Awards 2018: Best Caribbean Destination and Best Caribbean Tourism Minister. Caribbean Journal is the world's largest website covering Caribbean travel and tourism. Editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal Alexander Britell said, "The region's tourism offering has never been more diverse or more energetic. It's a message to the world that the Caribbean isn't just back — it's better than ever." But it is better in The Bahamas, and according to officials, the destina- tion had the most impressive growth in the region. "While several destinations have had particularly strong growth in 2018, none has been more impressive — or more broadly impactful — than The Bahamas," officials said on the destination's website. "That's because while the destination has seen surging airlift growth (and a powerful increase in arrivals, thanks to the full-fledged debut of the Baha Mar mega resort), this year has seen something unique for the des- tination: universal growth. That means growth that has been felt beyond the traditional pole of Nassau and New Providence. Indeed, islands across the Out Islands (and, crucially, Grand Bahama) are seeing strong growth — a clear sign that The Bahamas' tourism growth is being real- ized across 700 islands and cays. And that's a very powerful thing." Just recently, Ministry of Tourism and Aviation officials reported that stopover arrivals have soared by some 18 percent from January to October 2018. Expedia travel has also reported that room night sales have grown by 30 percent and forward bookings are up by 9.2 percent. The Caribbean Journal says part of this success is due to Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D'Aguilar. "While The Bahamas' impressive growth has come from myriad sources, the destination's surge has been expertly stewarded by Tourism Minister Dionisio D'Aguilar, who took over in the role in 2017," officials said. "From adding new hotels to helping to secure crucial new flights to, impor- tantly, making a concerted effort to give The Bahamas an active regional presence in the Caribbean, both at the public and private sector levels, D'Aguilar has been at the heart of the country's impressive growth." Minister D'Aguilar said that new and refurbished hotel offerings are the key to the success The Islands Of The Bahamas has had over the past year. "We will continue to work to reach millennials as well as repeat visi- tors looking for authentic, unique Bahamian experiences through the natural beauty of all of our islands, strategic partnerships and promotions, media relations and attractive programs for travelers," he said. B M & T ••• January/February 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 30 CARIBBEAN CORNER says part of Minister of The Bahamas an active regional presence in the Caribbean, both at the On Seaborne Airlines, the San Juan-St. Croix route saw an increase tion two key awards in its tion had the most impressive growth in the region. Baha Mar tination: universal growth. That means growth that has been felt beyond the traditional pole of Nassau and New Providence. Indeed, islands growth — a clear sign that The Bahamas' tourism growth is being real- ized across 700 islands and cays. And that's a very powerful thing." Photo Credit: Brenda Pachot DIONISIO D'AGUILAR

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