World Tour Guide

According to the World Tourism Organisation, Seven of the World’s most tourism-dependent nations are located in the Caribbean. It’s really rather splendid news then that the volume of tourist visits to the Caribbean’s Tropical Sky is increasing every year, and set to increase for some time. But troubles may be ahead, and there are questions about the quality of spending to be asked too.

The largest immediate issue for the Caribbean economy, especially holidays to Barbados (and other nations who depend on former colonial ties for a higher degree of British tourists) are the Air Passenger Duty rules passed down by the UK Government. Whilst hope of an outright U-Turn is minimal, Caribbean trade figures are so concerned that they’re actively appealing for the UK Government to change its policy in the March budget. Flying to the Caribbean under the new rules cost the UK traveller about £150 extra, so it’s unsurprising that there has been a fall off in numbers from the UK. The UK’s national VAT rise and recent GDP problems will on exacerbate the problem.

Worrying as this is, it’s perhaps simply a shift in source markets that may turn out to be more permanent. The numbers are because places like China are realising their potential as source markets. 23 million people visited the Caribbean in 2010, five percent up from the 22.1 million witnessed in 2009. It’s not just the annual family holidays that keep the Caribbean afloat Weddings Abroad are showing renewed vitality. However, analysts are noting that the increasing numbers aren’t necessarily meaning any improvements in revenue. Josef Forstmayr, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association president, claims that ‘visitors and not spending as much’. People require holidays to the extent where, without fail, they’ll try to book themselves a week or so of quality time, regardless of cost. In tight economic conditions, they’re simply less likely to follow up this initial spend with as much extra activity that results in gain for local businesses. People go to the Caribbean to enjoy a grand asset that is also free for the taking: the climate. Since it’s impossible for local business to monetise the sun, it’s hoped that conditions will improve.

The last three months have been very hectic for the Caribbean Island of Barbados and Antigua. It was only November last year when it was announced that Antigua and Barbados would be joint hosting the 2011 Caribbean Twenty20 Cricket tournament. Inevitably, Cricket fans from around the globe rushed to get on Antigua holidays. But the turn around for a January tournament must have put a fair bit of stress on its organisers and participant teams. In 2010, the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament was held in July, barely sixth months before this attempt.

The repositioning has helped to redefine the fledgling tournament which is now the first Twenty20 Cricket tournament of the year. Moving the tournament also meant that the substantial weather problems experienced in the 2010 tournament were unlikely to be repeated. Three were entirely abandoned due to heavy rain and further three were cut short for the same reasons. This was not entirely successful, as the 18th January match between Jamaica and British guest team Somerset was called off after six of twenty-overs per side. As visitors, Somerset were understandably frustrated to come crashing out of the tournament in these conditions, not least because it meant cutting short their Barbados holidays.

Though only in its second year, the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament is already considered important enough to set teams up for the Twenty20 Champions League. Here too, this factor influenced the rescheduling of the tournament. The schedule in 2010 gave less than two months for the winner of the Caribbean tournament to prepare for the Champion’s League. Arguably, this is why Guyana crashed out of the later in the group stages.

But off to a marginally rocky start, the Caribbean tournament is otherwise a brilliant ambassador for the sport. Twenty20 cricket has proved itself to be a valid new direction for the relatively inaccessible sport of cricket, even though at an average four hours it still hasn’t been pared down to the size of the most internationally popular team sports. Who knows where Cricket will go once Twenty20 becomes an internationally recognised sport. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’d like to go on Vietnam holidays should anyone be willing to introduce the sport to the Vietnamese.

20 kilometers of virgin white beach flanked by pristine turquoise water and one of the best beaches in the world, Varadero in Cuba is a tourist retreat like no other. Not for nothing has this tiny peninsula at the northernmost tip of Cuba attracted travelers since centuries. First used as a dry dock (Varadero in Spanish) by the Spanish fleet in the 16th century, it started life as a city in the 19th century and quickly grew in size as visitors discovered its charms. Currently, it hosts more than 500,000 tourists annually. So if you are looking to get away from it all, you must travel to Varadero for a week of self-indulgence.

Varadero is very easy to reach, with several flights from the Americas, Europe and the Caribbeans landing at the local Juan Gualberto Gomez International Airport. For the seafaring traveler, docking facilities are available at the Chapelin, Puertosol Darsena de Varadero and Gaviota marinas. Hotel accommodation is easy to come by in all segments, and several international names like Sandals, Melia and Iberosta having prominent presence.

In addition to the aforementioned beaches, Varadero offers tourists several other sightseeing opportunities like the green beauty of the Parque Josone and the unspoiled charms of the Bellamar Caves. The Tropicana Matanzas, the island’s top cabaret, offers a taste of the nightlife to the thrill-seeking traveler. For a taste of the local cuisine, a gamut of choices from beach vendors to upscale restaurants are available. And so are the Cuban cigars of worldwide renown.

You should also visit the towns of Cardenas (a seaside town) and Matanzas (the “city of bridges”), the Santa Elvira Church and see the El Patriarca cactus, reputed to be more than 600 years old. At night, venture out for a taste of Cuban nightlife, with the Rumba Palace, the Continental Cabaret, and the Habana Cafe definitely worth a visit.

For the sporty visitor looking for thrills, Varadero offers water sports (Barracuda Club), swimming with dolphins (Delfinario), parachuting (International Parachuting Center), and much, much more. The Mojito, a splendid concoction of freshly crushed mint, lime juice and white rum, is a must-have in Varadero, accompanied by the Cuba Libre, a combination of of rum, cola and lime juice.

Great beaches, good food, numerous places to visit – Varadero offers all this in one package. Therefore, if you want to take a break from the hectic pace of life and experience life in a tropical paradise, you must travel to Varadero.

Jose Mauricio Maurette Garces is a reservation consultant and co owner of Quest World Travel Ltd . He has a great deal of experience organizing Cuba travel. If you need to arrange a tailor made Cuba Holiday please follow the links above.