Within a year or two, nationals and residents of eight (8) Southern Caribbean tourist destinations should be able to capitalize on a new travel initiative that allows them to purchase one ticket and travel to all eight destinations. It will also enable them to choose between sailing from port to port aboard a cruise ship, fly to the next destination, or use a ferry. Enhanced trading of goods and services among the people of those destinations, and the provision of multiple choices to all travelers are salient components of this envisaged arrangement.
The materialization of these opportunities is based on the recent signing of a Letter of Intent by representatives from Grenada, Columbia, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Columbia, and Trinidad and Tobago, during a “Summit” that was convened for that purpose in Curacao. It paves the way to begin the process that will see the fruition of this brain child proposal of the Prime Minister of Curacao the Hon: Gerrit Schotte.
Delegations from the eight destinations were invited to Curacao for a two-day meeting to discuss a feasible time table and the logistics required for the its successful introduction. This was held in August. Subsequently, on September 1 & 2, 2011, delegates attended a Summit of the Ministers of Tourism for the signing of a Letter of Intent outlining this proposed new approach to multi-destination tourism development that will enable residents of all the participating countries in the Southern Caribbean ‘to build new relationships with each other in an effort to overcome the unique challenges that exists in tourism and trade within the region’. With each destination having its own charm, uniqueness, history, culture, heritage, flora and fauna, it means that a perfect setting exists currently for an unforgettable Caribbean experience to be coined from the combination of the various attributes.
Grenada’s delegation at the Summit consisted of Minister of Social Development Hon: Sylvester Quarless, who attended on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, and the Director of Tourism Mr. Simon Stiell. They both stressed Government’s commitment and pledged Grenada’s fullest support towards its introduction, while recognizing that its implementation requires consensus on legal, governmental, nautical and aviation matters.