Destinations
Martinique making waves as cruise arrivals post big gains
Martinique is reporting a close to 11% jump in cruise arrivals for the 2024–2025 season -- up from about 421,000 the previous year to more than 465,000 embarking and disembarking passengers across over 200 ship calls. It’s a clear sign of the island’s rising appeal as both a homeport and transit destination, with the island now ranking among the region’s fastest-growing cruise hubs, a momentum further boosted by MSC Cruises’ recent announcement to resume year-round operations in Martinique starting in 2027. Muriel Wiltord, Director of the Americas for the Martinique...
Nevis Tourism Authority names Ravariere as new CEO
The Nevis Tourism Authority (NTA) has named Andia Ravariere as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective Sept. 1, 2025. Ravariere brings more than a decade of experience in sustainable tourism development and destination marketing across the Caribbean, making her uniquely positioned to lead Nevis into its next chapter of growth. She joins the NTA after seven years with the Ministry of Tourism in Anguilla, where she played a pivotal role in guiding the island’s tourism rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, she served as Destination Marketing Manager for...
A brand new Mazatlan with “A Sea of Stories” to tell
Mazatlán has a new brand identity -- Un Mar de Historias (A Sea of Stories). Officials say it more than a slogan, rather it’s a repositioning of the destination to reflect its evolution -- from a beloved beach town to a cultural, culinary, and event-driven hub on Mexico’s Pacific coast. The new identity puts storytelling at the centre. Instead of focusing only on sun and sand, Un Mar de Historias showcases Mazatlán’s people, flavours, traditions, and year-round experiences -- from international sporting events and music festivals to historic neighborhoods, sustainable...
Jamaica sees global airlift increase for fall-winter 2025-2026
From September 2025 through February 2026, Jamaica is projecting that seat capacity across the island’s three major airports will grow by 4.4% compared to the same period last year. This includes Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport (MBJ), Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport (KIN), and Ocho Rios’ Ian Fleming International Airport (IFIA). For the September–February period, MBJ will see a 5.6% increase in scheduled seat capacity and an 8.5% rise in departures year over year. KIN is expected to record a 1.3% increase in capacity and a 3.1% rise in departures,...
Mexico posts strong results, as visitors embrace new experiences
Mexico’s tourism boom is showing no signs of slowing down; from January to July 2025, the country welcomed 47.4 million international visitors -- a 13.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Of these, 23.4 million were tourists staying overnight, up 7.3% year-on-year. Visitors are also spending more, with US$18.68 billion in international visitor expenditure, marking a 6.3% growth over last year. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo said: “This year’s indicators prove that Mexico is on trend. Visitors are staying longer, spending more, and discovering...
Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority Celebrates Opening of New Toronto Office
The Hon. Charles 'Max' Fernandez, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment, and Colin C. James, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) joined Director of Tourism, Tameka Wharton to officially open the ABTA’s Canada office, the Authority’s first independent overseas office, in Toronto, Canada last week. Minister Fernandez said that “the elegance of the office represents the destination brand in all respects. It’s a one-stop shop that allows the Canadian tourism team to be more responsive and connected to trade...
All smiles from the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic rolled out the red carpet at the recent Faena Forum in Miami Beach recently to officially unveil its latest global campaign, “Dominicana smiles at you.” Designed to capture the warmth, authenticity and lively spirit of the Dominican people, the campaign invites travelers from around the world to discover why the Dominican Republic is more than just a destination - it’s a feeling. The event brought together key figures from across the travel and tourism industry, including top airline executives, over 200 tour operators and travel agents, and familiar faces...
Antigua & Barbuda make it clear that the beach is just the beginning
Antigua & Barbuda is making it clear that Canada is an important market for the destination that bills itself as the Heart of the Caribbean and that the Canadian travel trade is an integral part of its success here. It’s a message that was delivered by none other than Antigua & Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation, and Investment, Hon. H. Charles 'Max' Fernandez at an event in Toronto this week and during which, he drove home the point that for visiting Canadians, “the beach is just the beginning” of their vacation in Antigua &...