.....

Introduction Canada Caribbean Central /South Mexico USA Africa Apec Countries Asia Pacific Australia China Europe				Discover the Caribbean, Africa's Cultural Connection to the Americas by Muguette Goufrani Last spring we had the opportunity to meet and share the platform with President Jennifer Smith of Bermuda at an African Tourism Congress in Cape Town. She and her Tourism Minister David Allen helped strengthen the ties between our association (ATA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization. I've traveled to the sunny Caribbean on several occasions, most recently via American Airlines with a team representing National Geographic and several other US and Canadian media. Having lived and worked in West Africa as a Travel Agent, I have always been impressed by the cultural similarities between the peoples of those islands and several West African countries, such as Benin, Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire. The historic ties between the Caribbean and Africa are well known, and growing stronger thanks to improved travel links and opportunities. As an active member of the Francophone Community, I had an unforgettable vacation in Martinique and Guadeloupe (details on that later). For those reasons and others, we are proud to introduce this special page on Caribbean tourisms destination. We will also include news releases and background on the Caribbean Tourism Organization. Click for full screen version of map. Contact the following locations. About the Caribbean Tourism Organization The Caribbean Tourism Organization is the region's tourism development agency comprised of 32 member governments and a myriad of private sector companies with headquarters in Barbados and marketing operations in New York, London and Toronto. The CTO's primary objective is to provide to and through its members, the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean people. The organization provides specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics and sustainable tourism development.
				CTO Head Office-Barbados Sir Frank Walcott Bldg., Culloden Farm Complex, Culloden Road, St. Michael, Barbados, W.I. Tel. 246-427-5242 Fax 246-429-3065 web site- http://www.caribtourism.com USA- New York City 80 Broad Street, 32nd Floor, New York, N.Y.10004 Tel. 212-635-9530 Fax 212-635-9511 email: get2cto@dorsai.org Canada- Toronto Taurus House, 512 Duplex Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4R 2E3 Tel. 416-485-7827 Fax 416-485-8256 UK- London 42 Westminster Palace Gardens, Artillery Row, London SWIP 1RR, England Tel. 0171 222 4335 Fax 0171 222 4325 CTO Background The Caribbean Tourism Organization was established in 1989. Its Research and Development Centre (founded 1974) is an international development agency functioning under a Headquarters Agreement with the Government of Barbados, where its headquarters are located. Objectives: Increase the value and volume of tourism flows to member states. Create in the marketplace a greater awareness and understanding of Caribbean tourism. Create a greater public awareness and understanding of tourism by host countries. Develop the highest level of skills and professionalism in the personnel serving the Caribbean in tourism and tourism related areas. Design and develop a comprehensive tourism information system. Ensure a harmonious interaction between tourism and the social and natural environment. Give special support to those countries not able to represent themselves. Foster close links with regional institutions and international donor agencies. Develop a capacity to assist members in defining and responding to any tourism related need. Service, retain and expand the membership of CTO. Develop the strongest possible linkage between the tourism sector and other economic sectors, for example, agriculture, manufacturing and services of all kinds.   Monarch Airlines to start weekly Caribbean charter Monarch Airlines is to start a weekly charter flight from Gatwick Airport to Barbados and Trinidad in July 2002. The flights will begin on July 17, according to Oliver Jordan, president of the Barbados Tourism Authority. The Wednesday flight then continues on to Trinidad's Piarco International Airport in the capital, Port of Spain. It is the airline's only flight through Barbados, Mr Jordan said. "With the decline in visitors from Britain, Barbados' bread and butter market ... we will see an improvement in arrivals," he said. Barbados is a former British colony of 266,800 people. A declining world economy and fear of flying after the September 11 attacks on the United States have led to decreases in tourism throughout the Caribbean.