Any doubt about future development in the Carribean

[Flatfish]

I was trying to find an article in the New York Times a couple of weeks ago about the development of the Carribean that is suppose to grow by leaps and bounds with huge resorts and golf courses but couldn't find it. But I did find some interesting links for reading somewhat along the same lines.......

Ah ah!! Found it!
http://abacoforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4981

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/16/world/AP-CB-Puerto-Rico-Environment.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=caribbean%20development&st=cse

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1229141/Lord-Ashcrofts-links-disgraced-PM-corruption-mired-British-territory.html?ITO=1490

http://www.greatexumacays.com/development.asp

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/LACEXT/0,,contentMDK:20468612~pagePK:146736~piPK:146830~t heSitePK:258554,00.html (http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/LACEXT/0,,contentMDK:20468612%7EpagePK:146736%7EpiPK:1468 30%7EtheSitePK:258554,00.html)

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/4908529/Construction-Pipeline-Three-Year-Forecast-for-New-Hotel-Openings

a lot of great links to articles at the bottom of this page:
http://www.eclacpos.org/profile/profileByCountry.asp?country_id=5&country_name=BAHAMAS

[SamFamAustin]

I'm not quite sure about a rapid increase in Caribbean tourism, so I guess I have some doubt. Cuba is a wild card. The World Bank link seems to infer that "doing business as usual" will probably fail, especially if the infrastructure and tax policies remain the same - it is quite well written. Is there potential? Yes. But I don't see an instant travel boom happening, and any trends will need to overcome near-term losses just to get back to where things were before the recession. To quote:

A Time to Choose says overall investment rates have been quite high at about 30 percent of GDP since 1990, but warns that they could decline with eroding preferences, the maturing of traditional industries such as tourism, and an increasingly more competitive international environment. The report, which draws on a survey of 159 firms operating in the regions, argues that to improve the investment climate, Caribbean countries must improve their performance in the areas of infrastructure, policy and legal environment, and taxation and customs.


This is a large agenda, and one that requires considerable political will and leadership. The opportunities are great, but time is short and implementation will be key. Going forward, Caribbean governments, rather than creating expectations about the continuation of preferences or donors flows, should engage all stakeholders – civil society, the private sector, trade unions, the media, donors, and each other – in a dialogue and partnership on the challenges and opportunities of new sources of growth and competitiveness. Business as usual will no longer suffice.



So I see some future potential, but what that is how good it will be remains to be seen. I tend not to trust any "crystal ball" prognostications unless somebody has some better data. I guess I'm not a gambler. By the way, if you follow casino stocks, where over 80 percent of the profits are made on renting hotel rooms, you might conclude that the end of the world is near! :eek: