THE CARIBBEAN remains a leading tourist destination, but it needs to do more to develop its product in the face of increased competition.
This, said Singapore tourism expert Christopher Khoo, including focusing more on niche markets, research and planning.
Khoo is the senior tourism consultant at International Business Dynamics (iBusiness), a training and consultancy firm that specialises in trade and economic development, investment promotion and tourism development.
He gave the advice this morning at the opening of a Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) workshop which is focusing on how the region from benefit from Singapore’s tourism model.
Khoo said Barbados and the region would benefit from giving visitors “authentic experiences” and that it was also important for these destinations to measure tourism’s full contribution.
These views were shared by CTO secretary General Hugh Riley and Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association chief executive office Sue Springer.
Riley said the region should continue to look for ways to improve its tourism product and that while Singapore was a competitor, there were things the Caribbean could learn from it.
Springer said there was a perception that the tourism product was “jaded” and she saw a need for officials to ensure their offerings were what the market required. (SC)