This week’s announcement of a change in diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States is a welcome opportunity to increase tourist arrivals to the Caribbean. With the US already being the region’s largest source market, producing nearly half of our tourism business, this new development could enhance those numbers. Last year we welcomed over 12 million Americans to our shores. An opportunity to substantially increase that number will be welcomed.

Cuba is a longstanding and active member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, having joined the CTO in 1992. The island is actively engaged in our trade and consumer promotions in Canada, Latin America and Europe and we look forward to including Cuba in our programmes in the United States. We now anticipate the island’s broader participation in CTO-organised global and regional events in the future.

Naturally, an unusually large inflow of new travelers to the Caribbean will have varying effects on Cuba and the rest of the Region. The CTO will provide the technical resources necessary to manage the growth, reduce any dislocation, and help create sustainable tourism development strategies throughout our member-countries.

The CTO proudly promotes an exciting, diverse tourism product offered by its over 30 member countries and Cuba is an integral part of that diversity. The success of every member-country is an important focus of the Organization’s overall vision for the Caribbean. (Caribbean Tourism Organisation)

About the 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.

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;

The CTO’s London office is located at The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, England. Tel: 011 44 208 948 0057; Fax: 011 44 208 948 0067; E-mail: CTOlondon@caribtourism.com; For more information on the Caribbean Tourism Organization please visit www.OneCaribbean.org.

Get the latest CTO updates on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ctotourism.

Connect with CTO on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanTourismOrganization.