by Linda Straker
- Revitalising OECS tourism markets a priority for new US Administration
- USA is Caribbean’s largest source market for tourism
- Over 2,000 employed in hospitality sector have lost their jobs
Revitalising Grenada’s and the other OECS member states’ tourism markets as part of balancing livelihood and sustainable developments amid the Covid-19 pandemic, is one of the priorities for the new US Administration.
“Once everyone is settled down, I would like to see an engagement with the Caribbean on some of the key issues of the Caribbean, now particularly with Covid-19 and the economic impact it has had on the islands, especially in the area of tourism,” said Linda Taglialatela, USA Ambassador to Barbados and the OECS.
“We really need to focus on how to revitalise the economy and how do we help. How do we help the countries move forward with monetary losses due to a lack of tourism?” she said during an interview last week Friday. Other areas of focus for the continued sustainable development of USA–OECS and Barbados relations will also include climate change, climate resilience and immigration.
“We really need to work closely on these issues.” Taglialatela is one of the few ambassadors to work directly with 3 administrations, having started her assignment to the OECS under the Barack Obama administration, followed by Donald Trump and now with Joseph Biden.
The USA is the Caribbean largest source market for tourism, and since the global pandemic was declared in February 2020 the travel and tourism industry is among the source of employment hardest hit. In Grenada, more than 2,000 employed directly or indirectly in the hospitality sector have lost their jobs because of Covid-19 measures.
Although countries are accepting commercial flights from the USA, PCR negative tests have now become a normal travel entry document to entry destinations including Canada, the USA and most Caribbean nations.
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You are extremely WRONG that building all those new hotels us good. If you actually LISTEN to Tourists who want extended vacations they want the natural environment that Grenada has not more overpriced concrete piles that have destroyed some of Grenada’s most beautiful natural ecosystems like the salt pond at La Sagesse. Or endangering the Leatherback turtles at Levera. You need to stop listening to hotel propaganda and money launder corrupt countries like Russia and China who don’t have Grenada’s interests at heart in any way shape or firm. While are the Chinese to prevent a government inspection of what they are doing at Levera? These Chinese are on Grenada niw, a sovereign country. They don’t get to say what can and can’t happen here. Get in there and inspect before more damage is done .
ummm. talking about destroying our country. grenadians have done far worst. they have dumped garbage in parts of levera and most of mt.hartman. take a walk down there by the road side and you will see piles of garbage. you must talk about the actions of your own people first before you talk about the actions of foreigners. remember you grenadians wont do anything for your country so the chinese will have to. actually they are singaporian investors.
Here here!! As an American, I’m so disappointed to find the same resorts, restaurants, bars and knick knacks peddled around the Caribbean. We choose to vacation in Grenada because it is different. It still feels authentic. The people are warm and welcoming. I don’t want to sip Mexican beers at margaritaville (a staple for some reason at every Caribbean island) while I eat chicken fingers when I could explore the nature, history and culture of another country. I don’t want to be walled off in an all inclusive resort where a agreed down version of the island is brought to me. Your country has so much to share! Stay Grenada and the tourism will come….
Just wondering if the newspaper deletes letters for reasons unknown ????
No but it does delete them for a very well-known reason.
Like if they don’t support the dodgy Doc PM or they are non-PC.
Today CDC has updated their guidance for those with 2 vaccines either the Moderna and the Pfizer vaccines – do NOT have to quarantine if exposed to a covid patient. This guidance should help the Government of Grenada to update their decision as far as tourists are concerned. I was actually planning a trip to Grenada today – but had to cancel due to the strict quarantine guidance despite having 2 doses of the vaccine. The ONLY way out of this world calamity is by listening to and following science – without regard to political , personal beliefs
Like RN, my wife and I also were planning on visiting from the US for 3 months. However, for the 2 of us… by the time we pay for another PRC test (200 USD each) and quarantine in a special hotel (another charge), PCR test AGAIN and then have to PCR again back to the US… it’s about $3000 USD just to meet COVID requirements. That’s if there’s no false negative and you have to PCR again. I’m beginning to wonder why we vaccinated… it has no impact on our ability to travel or quarantine.
Tourism is good. Tourism is the best because we get to share this beautiful country with the Americans, Chinese and Europeans just like how they share their beautiful countries with us. Some Grenadians dont like tourism but its okay but some people need to understand just how important tourism is to our country. Building the hotels to expand tourism are good too. Grenadians can also start building hotels and create lots of attractive sites for tourists.
Remember tourists are not only foreigners or people who come from outside. You can even be a tourist in your country. Yes! Explore this wonderful country that God had Blesses us with! Remember not only Agriculture alone! Every country need tourism!
In southern europe, people are so tired of tourists it has turned into violence in some cases.
Good heavens, really?
That would never happen in the West Indies would it???
No tourists ever get robbed in Jamaica do they?