CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION, CARIBBEAN HOTEL & TOURISM ASSOCIATION ISSUE STATEMENT ON BREXIT
Caribbean Tourism Industry Stakeholders Comment on Brexit
Briefing Planned on Possible Implications for Tourism
THE CARIBBEAN (June 30, 2016) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean
Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), representing the region’s public and private sector tourism
interest, recognize and respect the will of the majority of voters as reflected in the outcome of the British
EU referendum. The extent to which the decision by UK voters to opt out of the European Union will
affect travel to and from our region remains to be seen.
The severity and longevity of exchange rate fluctuations is an immediate concern. Caribbean tourism
industry stakeholders should monitor this, given its potential impact on travel planning and travel package
agreements.
Concerns have been raised about the impact on travel visas, affecting UK-EU travel to and from the
Caribbean. A resolution on this matter will take some time to address and prior to that the existing
Schengen visa protocols remain in effect.
The broader implications on travel demand and tour operator agreements, airline traffic and movement,
international trade, as well as UK and EU financial and technical support to the region, in particular to its
protectorates, are all yet to be determined and will take some time to resolve.
CTO and CHTA are planning a detailed webinar briefing for their respective members titled Brexit and
Caribbean Tourism: Possible Implications, for Thursday, July 7, 2016 at 10 a.m. Facilitators will include
David Jessop, a consultant to the Caribbean Council and investigative journalist and columnist whose
work is featured regularly throughout the Caribbean media; and Mark Tanzer, CEO for the Association of
British Travel Agents (ABTA).
To register for the webinar briefing click here.
CTO and CHTA will continue to monitor the situation and potential impact on the Caribbean and share
relevant information with members to better understand the ramifications on our industry and the region’s
economies so we may all plan accordingly.
Caribbean Tourism Organization
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with headquarters in Barbados and offices in New York and
London, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of over 30 countries and
territories including Dutch, English, French and Spanish, as well as a myriad of private sector allied
members. The CTO’s vision is to position the Caribbean as the most desirable, year round, warm weather
destination, and its purpose is Leading Sustainable Tourism – One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean.
Among the benefits to its members the organization provides specialized support and technical assistance
in sustainable tourism development, marketing, communications, advocacy, human resource
development, event planning & execution and research & information technology.
In addition the CTO, in partnership with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, jointly and equally
owns the Caribbean Tourism Development Company, a marketing and business development entity
dedicated to promoting the Caribbean brand worldwide.
Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) is a federation of 32 National Hotel Associations, with more
than 600 member hotels and over 300 allied members. CHTA is the largest representative of the private sector in
the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry. We are the voice of the Caribbean hospitality industry for the
development of the region in the highly competitive and sophisticated environment of international tourism. Today,
tourism is widely recognized as a pivotal industry in the economy of the region – and CHTA functions as the
common denominator for this industry in a region of diverse nationalities, languages and styles, identifying mutual
problems and marshaling the resources of the active and allied members to devise solutions. CHTA represents all
facets of the hospitality industry with more than 600 member hotels and over 300 allied members.
CHTA, including the events staged by the association, is supported by Strategic Partners AskMe Inc., Clear
Channel Airport Division, Interval International, JetBlue Getaways, MasterCard, OBM International, SiteMinder,
Tambourine and TravelZoo.
For more information contact any of the following organizations:
The CTO’s Headquarters is located at Baobab Tower, Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados BB 22026; Tel:
(246) 427-5242; Fax: (246) 429-3065; E-mail: CTObarbados@caribtourism.com. The CTO’s New York
office is located at 80 Broad St., Suite 3302, New York, NY 10004, USA: Tel: (212) 635-9530; Fax:
(212) 635-9511; E-mail: CTONY@caribtourism.com. Visit www.OneCaribbean.org,
http://www.twitter.com/ctotourism and http://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanTourismOrganization.
CHTA is located at 2655 LeJeune Rd., Suite 910, Coral Cables, FL 33134; Tel: 305-443-3040 or
membership@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com. Visit https://caribbeanhotelandtourism.com,
Facebook.com/CaribbeanHotelandTourismAssociation and Twitter.com/CHTAFeeds.