Caribbean and Vanilla Islands compete to attract cruises

The Caribbean Islands and the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands on the other side of the world have both been working hard to attract cruise tourism to their shores. Some islands benefiting with more success than others, both regions making a year-on-year improvement on the number of cruise ship companies stopping in the region and the number of nights the ships remain in port.

The Caribbean islands are now going to meet to focus on their way forward and the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands need to be doing the same. The change of Tourism Ministers makes it more important than ever for a briefing meeting by Pascal Viroleau, the CEO of the Vanilla Islands and replanning the future. The Caribbean example is a great one for Ministers of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands to follow.

Caribbean tourism stakeholders will meet in Puerto Rico early next month focusing on key elements to foster long-standing mutual success between cruise lines and destinations. “We could not be prouder to announce the workshops this year because they show the industry’s commitment to doing business with our partners in the Caribbean and Latin America,” said Michele Paige, President of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

From the ultimate decision-makers to high-level executives that determine where ships call, what sells on board and how to invest in destinations and products, the cruise industry will truly be on hand – and focused on maximizing synergies and potential opportunities with the audience,” she added.

The November 5-9 FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show, is regarded as the largest and only official cruise conference and trade show in the Caribbean and is expected to be attended by 150 cruise industry decision-makers, representing 95 percent of global ocean cruising capacity, along with high-level government representatives.

The organizers said that for the first time in the event’s 25-year history, chairmen of cruise lines and corporations participate in a separate workshop, to present both unique perspectives and an all-encompassing view of the industry.