Preparations Accelerate for the 42nd CHTA Caribbean Travel Marketplace

The 42nd Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace is to be held on May 21 and 22 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Jamaica. The trade show is a key marketing event for the Caribbean region, showcasing its products to wholesalers, tour operators and buyers globally. In 2022, the Caribbean Travel Marketplace attracted an attendance of 700 delegates from 44 countries. Held in Barbados last year, the inaugural CHTA Travel Forum was attended by 254 delegates.

Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, emphasized the significant opportunity the event presents for the Caribbean region to reveal its assets and innovative leadership. Bartlett expressed that the region is now poised to take a new perspective on itself in the post-COVID era to elevate tourism to the next level. He also highlighted the importance of responsible tourism as a key component of the sector’s innovation and a way to position the Caribbean region as the future’s destination.

This year’s event will be structured around three segments: the business of tourism, which will be highlighted at the Caribbean Travel Forum, the marketing of tourism, taking place at the CHTA Travel Marketplace, and the community of tourism, observed as ‘Responsible Tourism Day’. Nicola Madden-Greig, President of the CHTA, stated that this year they are making a concerted effort to bring in more new buyer delegates and have expanded to target buyers from Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Asia.

In a new initiative, the CHTA will organise a multi-destination media trip to the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Five members of the media will be invited for a 10-day trip to experience these Caribbean islands and their unique offerings. Madden-Greig indicated this special arrangement aims to broaden exposure of these destinations to potential tourists.

The CHTA under its Responsible Tourism initiative has confirmed three target projects. These include activities with the Montego Bay Marine Park, the SOS Children’s Village, and a productive partnership with the Croydon Estate, a crucial supplier of fruits and vegetables to the tourism industry. Madden-Greig emphasised that the CHTA recognises the importance of addressing climate change and sustainable development issues to build a responsible stewardship for tourism communities.