Caribbean Export OUTLOOK 3rd Edition

Trade & Export Hot Spots 50

including The Bahamas which received a 29% increase and Barbados with a 39% increase from Philippine tourists alone for the period covering 2014-2015. The capacity of Southeast Asian travelers to indulge themselves on regular leisurely escapades has resulted in various local and regional travel and tour expos. Unfortunately, these same events have seen minimal, if any, participation from Caribbean tourism promotion agencies. In fact, at the 2017 ITB Asia in Singapore, only the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Tourism had presence among the many countries in the Caribbean. Other island nations that share similarities with the Caribbean such as Seychelles, Maldives, and Mauritius have gained tourist arrivals due to their partnerships with local travel agents from around Southeast Asia. This steady growth in tourism expenditure could easily be captured by the Caribbean but is hampered by the general lack of regional representation and the relative non- existence of local marketing initiatives in Southeast Asia. Despite having the same tropical climate, the Caribbean offers a distinct luxurious experience which has not been communicated to Southeast Asians very well. This includes highlighting properties such as “adult only” resorts and “honeymoon” destinations which are uncommon in the ASEAN region where most of the hospitality industry is designed to be either family-friendly or catering to backpackers. In addition, the general notion that many North American and European tourists visiting the Caribbean are in their golden years is a direct contrast to Southeast Asian travelers who are often younger and more vibrant. This perception coupled with the shortage of ample knowledge about Caribbean destinations contribute greatly to the low visitors from Southeast Asia.

Asia’s current fleet of 1,050 commercial aircrafts will increase to 3,150 by 2030. Numerous Southeast Asian airlines now fly direct to North American cities daily thereby providing easier access into the Caribbean as well. Inthe ICTsector, theASEANSecretariat states that: “ASEAN is at its most interesting mobile and internet innovation phase. Foreign ventures from South and East Asia as well as resource-rich local companies scramble to maximize market opportunities and benefit from the region’s 600 million people, majority of whom are young and tech-savvy. “A PwC paper shows there is more than 100% mobile penetration rate in most Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, which each have a subscriber base of over 100 million. Overall, mobile phone density is estimated at 967 per 1000 population.” This growth sector translates to an unlimited potential for mobile e-commerce. Tourism Opportunities Though the Caribbean shares similarities with Southeast Asia in terms of its identical tropical weather, there are numerous unique propositions found only in the Caribbean. Focusing on the region’s rich cultural heritage should be considered a strong selling point to Southeast Asian tourists. With the upsurge in luxury spending, domestic and international tourism has seen exponential growth. Outbound tourism statistics from the World Tourism Organization not only showcases the expected rise in regional tourism but also the substantial demand for foreign tour packages even in unlikely territories such as Iceland, Iran and Turkey. Notwithstanding, Caribbean countries have received some of this growth influx

De Original Jamaican Pattie, Phillipines serves another satisfied customer

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