The third quarter of 2003 saw tourist arrivals to the Caribbean up by almost 6 percent over the same period in 2002. The most responsive islands were the Dominican Republic and Cuba, according to Simon Suarez, president of the Caribbean Hotels Association.Mr. Suarez noted that Cuba, barred from the American market, saw growth of 13 to 14 percent in 2003. The Dominican Republic marked a 20 percent increase in it’s number of arrivals.Mr. Suarez indicated that the popularity of the ‘all-inclusive’ concept had played an important factor in the upsurge. The DR is a spearhead of ‘fast-food’, or mass tourism. Many British holidaymakers flock to the island every year because of its low prices and value for money.
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