CANADA STILL STELLAR: CTO

The Caribbean isn’t taking Canada for granted. While the first part of 2013 may be proving slow for the Caribbean out of Canada, the region is still thrilled with arrivals growth from this country, which has been steadily rising for five years and surpassed three million visitors in 2012 (a 6.8% rise over the year before). And that’s a phenomenal stat for a country with such a small overall population, enthuses Caribbean Tourism Organization secretary general and CEO Hugh Riley. But Riley noted that while 2.7% more Canadians were travelling to other international destinations beyond the US and Caribbean in March and April, Caribbean numbers were lagging. “Is it a cause for panic? No!” stated the former Barbados Tourism Authority director for Canada at the conclusion of CTO Caribbean Week events in Toronto yesterday (Thursday). “But it is a cause for concern.” All of which emphasizes, says Riley, that the Caribbean cannot take its exalted position in the Canadian market for granted, and must continue to work together as a region, promote here and cultivate partnerships that will continue lead Canadians south.