The Bahamas may have “a little bit of an advantage” over other Caribbean countries when it comes to being impacted by the UK’s decision to raise air passenger duty (APD) rates by 8 percent, the minister of tourism and aviation said last week.

Caribbean destinations are being challenged to find creative ways to boost business even as tourists have fewer dollars to spend on their vacation. Nicholson-Doty said her destination, which includes St Thomas, St John and St Croix, has been looking at ways to expand and has found some success in the diving market.

LAN Airlines and Amadeus have signed a full-content distribution agreement that guarantees Amadeus travel agents worldwide access to the entire range of fares, schedules and inventory relating to the more than 18 million seats sold annually by the LAN Group Airlines.

The Caribbean Marine Association (CMA) recently completed a technical assistance project “Capacity building of the Caribbean Marine Association for policy dialogue and promotion of the sector towards the goals of many islands One Sea.”

The autumn statement by the Chancellor states that APD rates “will increase from April 1, 2012, as set out at Budget 2011”, with the extension to flights taken on business jets also set to go ahead. In response four of the UK's major airlines have released a joint statement again calling for APD to be abolished.

Belize is continuing to grow as a popular place for real estate investment. Tourism is a major component of the economy of this English-speaking former British colony, and property, in the right places, can be a great investment.