'Diasporic Tourism' key to Caribbean growth says CTO official

Mr. Hugh Riley

Tuesday, September 23, 2003

NEW YORK, New York: Caribbean destinations ought to channel a healthy chunk of their marketing resources into attracting tourism business from the Caribbean-American and African-American markets.

That's the verdict of travel and tourism experts in New York who will extensively discuss the issue of "Diasporic tourism" when Air Jamaica and its corporate partners host two town hall meetings today in Hempstead, Long Island, and tomorrow, in Richmond Hill, Queens. 

Barbadian-born Mr. Hugh Riley, the North American director of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, says he has particular interest in this area of tourism marketing. 

"We must see ourselves and our countries must see us as potential tourists for the entire Caribbean. There are Bajans, for example, who have never been to St. Lucia, Jamaica, Martinique, St. Maarten or Dominica - that's where the emphasis ought to be," said Mr. Riley. 

Air Jamaica's Special Markets Manager, Ms. Claire Robinson, added, "We must encourage Caribbean-Americans to visit hotels when they return to the Caribbean, because after visiting with mum, dad and aunty, you sometimes would like to relax at one of the wonderful Caribbean hotels, whether a large all-inclusive or a small inn in the countryside." 

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