Low cost carrier to boost tourism, LIAT is not
LIAT is not a low cost carrier. Photo: VINO.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Alec Sanguinetti is flummoxed with the idea that despite the Caribbean region comprising of some 35 countries and has a population of approximately 40 million; there is no low cost carrier.
“It is not acceptable…we have those two denominators and do not have a low cost carrier operating within the region. LIAT is not a low cost carrier,” the Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association told members of the media this morning Wednesday May 25, 2011.
The press conference was held to inform the public of a campaign the BVI Tourist Board in conjunction with the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) has embarked upon dubbed ‘Tourism is key’.
Mr. Sanguinetti stated that persons love travelling within the Caribbean but the air transport is posing a major setback which hinders the tourism product as a whole.
He made reference to the San Juan Accord which was held on October 19, 2007 where tourism officials called for the Caribbean Aviation policies to be more competitive, more effective, more efficient and more low cost to airlines by having one air space in terms of air traffic controls centers. It was agreed that an action plan would be in place by September 2008.
Mr. Sanguinetti speaking of the challenges facing tourism in the Caribbean. Photo: VINO
“Nothing happened. Hence the implementation deficiency syndrome that is what I mean. What has happened to the San Juan Accord? If you have to travel from Barbados to say at least three other locations you are paying over a $1,000! Do you know the airfares from here? Your Premier told me yesterday when he had to go to the LIAT emergency meeting earlier this year and he found out the cost for a round trip was $1,400 it was him and two others. It was cheaper to charter an aircraft and when the PM of St Kitts found out the price was so high also he asked him [the Premier] to stop to pick him up and pay his way,” Mr. Sanguinetti remarked, drawing laughter from reporters.
RedJet as an option?
Therefore, in an effort to alleviate the inter-regional travel, the General Director said he is perplexed as to the reason new airline carrier RedJet is facing so many obstacles to fly to Caricom countries. According to him, it has been designated by Barbados as a registered carrier and he can’t understand why some heads of Government are not accepting that fact.
“I don’t know what they are protecting because if you look at the Dominica Republic, they don’t have a national carrier but their tourism is growing…Mexico doesn’t have one- what are we protecting? Open up the system! Let the private sector come in and if a private sector airline wants to make a decision to fly and take the risk – be my guest,” declared.
11 Responses to “Low cost carrier to boost tourism, LIAT is not”
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Awww maan, this is a straight shooter!!! This is the kind of thinking we need to move this Territory and the wider Region in the righ direction! Cut all the small talk and theatrics, get to the red meat!!! He has good points but the problem is certain Governments and Ministers have stake in LIAT and they will do anything to protect it, even if it means causing their own to suffer. It’s ridiculous the prices to travel throughout the Caribbean, totall RIDICULOUS!!
Yep, cheaper to fly to the US than to fly to any island in the Caribbean!
What makes you think the US wants you going there?
you can say that again!
just close Liat as their service sucks anyway
Because the Governments of the region have to take their poundssssss of flesh mostly between 50-60% of all airfares in the region are taxes!!! The other reason why it is cheaper to travel to the US is that the tax component is much lower and also the fuel surcharges are itemized separately to the base fare. We must stop criticizing our own without ALL the information. Do YOU know that more than 50% of the US carriers in the region benefit from revenue guarantees and marketing subsidies by most of these islands???? If the fares are subsidized, they can afford to charge lower base fares than the regional airlines!! There is always merit to good and fair competition, but it MUST be fair. People like Sanguinetti know this and must stop playing politics because he has the stage to do so!
so happy Liat getting some competition I was so mad when Caribbean sun went out of business
Exactly…LIAT and CARIBBEAN AIRLINES (CARICOM owned carriers) nah get the message…why do inter-island/CARICOM tourism when it’s cheaper to fly to the US and the shopping there cheaper…not best all we family and friends (who have visas) agree to meeting up the US!!! This is what is killing our Caribbean economies- this ethnic backbiting house slave-field slave mentality.
any other carrier is better than LIAT
Mr. Sanguinetti I hope you all remember the BVI when you sharing out the funds for tourism research as we always get left behind…
ANY OTHER PLANES IS BETTRER THAN LIAT AND THAT IS THE TRUTH