November 9, 2021
As people in major source markets in the US, Canada and Europe begin to get vaccinated, there is an expectation that tourism in the Caribbean and Central America will begin to rebound- unless there is something drastic that happens to put a halt to all of that like the massive increase in cases in Europe or some terror attack in the US that brings global travel to a standstill yet again.
This is something all of the Caribbean and Central American countries were waiting on: Signs of tourism rebounding. Estimates are pegging pent up demand to be so significant that it will outpace the record breaking 2019 year for travel to the region.
This COVID-19 exit period is already seeing strange swings in the tourism activity. For example, some countries were having visitors from July- all the way through to September, with strong bookings and just as strong occupancy levels.
July to September tourism never happened. But because people were stuck in their countries the entire 2020, the demand was so strong that people just wanted to get out! And get out they did.
The other good news is that hotels have kept their rates steady and have not tried to hit rock bottom with pricing trying to get heads in beds, so when tourism picked up, hotels started to make regular season money.
We’re coming out of it folks. Slowly but surely, we are coming out of this COVID-19. Of course we will not forget 2020 in a very long time, just like Americans won’t let the world forget September 11, but at least we can have some normalcy soon.
Of course you still have to play it safe- wear your masks and sanitize your hands and keep a fair distance away from people. But there is light at the end of the tunnel.