Cuba is expected to receive a boom in visitors from the United States after the Obama administration took a series of steps to normalize relations between the two countries. At present travel is heavily restricted, with direct commercial flights banned, special visas compulsory and visitors required to join strictly controlled groups.

This week will see the start to the island’s 2014/2015 Winter Tourism Season, and the prospects that a better showing will provide a fillip for more growth in the economy. In particular, it will be a test for the proposed turnaround of tourism, as highlighted by key industry players.

Well over one million air seats have been secured to accommodate the influx of tourists who are expected to visit Jamaica during the highly anticipated Winter Tourist Season, which officially starts on Monday, December 15.

Tauck, the Norwalk, Conn.-based tour operator, unveiled a new longer and more intensive Cuba program that explores more of the country beyond Havana than its previous offering, which began operating in 2012.

The island’s principal promotions and marketing agency, the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, continues to build excitement and spur interest in an attempt to further revitalize the Caribbean market. The SLTB has just wrapped up its latest series of promotions.

With visitor arrivals from the Caribbean declining, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) is looking to South America to drive up its figures. This was revealed by the recently appointed chief executive officer William “Billy” Griffith.