Caribbean tourism leaders press for lower leakage and more local control

Caribbean tourism officials are stepping up pressure for the region to keep more of the money generated by the industry, as Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez cautioned that the Caribbean “cannot replace sugar plantation with hotel plantation”.

Fernandez made the comments at the recently ended Caribbean Travel Marketplace, where he said ministers, industry representatives and other delegates were paying closer attention to how much tourism income leaves regional economies because of imported supplies and overseas ownership arrangements.

“One of the concerns, or the major concern, was leakage,” Fernandez said, referring to the issues raised during the conference. He said several Caribbean destinations still bring in most of the goods used by the tourism trade, a practice he linked to higher prices and to the region receiving less than the full value of its leading industry.

“We actually import our inflation,” Fernandez said. He added that governments and tourism interests across the Caribbean are looking at practical steps to slow the movement of tourism earnings out of the region.

Fernandez said Caribbean workers should also be more visible in the highest ranks of the sector, arguing that nationals are the strongest ambassadors for their own destinations.

“I say all the time that we can’t replace sugar plantation for a hotel plantation. It’s not going to work,” he declared.

He said public officials and private tourism operators have a duty to help place Caribbean people “at the top tier of the industry”.

“We need to ensure, and push to see, that we can keep as many of our people at the top,” Fernandez said.

The remarks form part of a broader regional push to build stronger tourism linkages, increase purchases from local suppliers and make sure expansion in the visitor economy delivers wider benefits for Caribbean citizens.

Fernandez also said higher oil prices and international uncertainty are adding strain to the tourism business, especially as employees press for pay that can better meet the cost of living.

“The employees in the industry are saying, ‘Look, I need a liveable wage, not a minimum wage,’” he said.