From Wine Resorts to Medical Tourism: Exploring Niche Tourism Opportunities in the Caribbean
MIAMI – The attraction to the Caribbean for most is the beautiful scenery, endless sunshine and resplendent white beaches. Visitors cannot seem to get enough of this tourism mecca.
Last year saw the second year in a row that the Caribbean excelled ahead of the rest of the world in tourism arrivals, and the sixth consecutive year of growth for the Caribbean. Globally, tourism arrivals rose by 4.4% according to the UN’s World Tourism Organization compared to the Caribbean which grew by an impressive 7% with expenditure growth of 4.2% relative to the previous year.
With visitors ranging from the traveler seeking simple vacation solutions – such as all-inclusive – to the adventurer looking for unique hide-a-ways with an exotic flair, more and more the Caribbean is taking its place among the top locations in the world for its luxury hotels and second home developments.
Investment Opportunities in the Caribbean
With more than 7,000 islands and islets, the Caribbean presents a wealth of investment opportunities for the savvy investor looking to capitalize on what is clearly a growing market. But, it can be confusing navigating the plethora of opportunities.
The Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) in collaboration with the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) has pulled together some of the most attractive investor-ready opportunities to be found across the region. These will be unveiled at the Caribbean Investment Summit to be held at the Marriot Biscayne Bay, Miami on May, 13, 2016.
As the 3rd Caribbean Investment Summit and the first one to be held in North America, this event will present several investment ready opportunities to the attending patrons. Opportunities range from specialist wine resorts and luxury tourism residential developments to a World Baseball tourism venue, spa and beachfront properties for villas and condominium developments.
Also, on the list of offerings for investors are locations for marinas, horseracing facilities, agricultural estates and untouched scenic locations suitable for eco-tourism.
Medical Tourism Market
There are also opportunities in the USD $38.5-55 billion medical tourism market with offerings for 5 star developments in the Caribbean. Some islands are even open to discussing the leasing of islets – quickly becoming home of the wealthy and celebrities! Senior government officials and investment facilitation officers will be on hand to discuss these opportunities at length.
The Caribbean Investment Summit is funded and co-organized by the Integration & Trade Sector of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as a part of a Regional Public Goods Initiative entitled: Support to Foreign Direct Investment in the Caribbean. Emceed by fDi Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Courtnay Fingar, the event will also present investment opportunities in the business process outsourcing and renewable energy sectors in the Caribbean.
