Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
Aruba, Curacao, Panama soar as top summer destinations
… As Guyanese ‘trade-in’ the usual Barbados, Trinidad vacations
By Zena Henry
As the summer period draws to an end, newly introduced tourist destinations, Aruba, Curacao
Photo credit www.aruba.com
and Panama have peaked in bookings. In fact, travel agencies are saying that for this period, local tourists have been traveling to Aruba more than any other Caribbean destination.
The destination, which is now accessible through Curacao- based airline Insel Air, topped the usually traveled, neighbouring ports of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago with ticket sales doubling and tripling in some cases.
Connections Travel Agency which is located on Avenue of the Republic related to Kaieteur News that bookings for Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago have decreased significantly. With special travel offers of US$250 still on, “travelers are looking for a new experience,” the travel agent explained. She said that trips to the ‘flying fish and Carnival’ isles are basically the “same thing, over and over and people seem to have gotten accustomed to that.”
A representative from Frandec Travel Agency, on Main and Holmes Street, Georgetown, also expressed that Aruba seems to be leading the way as the most preferred travel destination for the summer. Both Panama and Curacao, the travel agent mentioned are also “doing very well.” The agent pointed out that positive booking numbers to the Dutch speaking nation can be attributed to low fares.
Aruba is a tourist destination that usually services the North American tourist sector and as such their peak season is during the winter season which starts year end. The travel agent added also that currently, the airfare to Aruba is just over US$200, which is far cheaper than going to Trinidad on Caribbean Airlines or LIAT for about US$300 and to Barbados for a little more. “A trip to Aruba and Curacao is about US$250 right now, but regular prices will be just over US$350.”
It seems clear that travelers were not as informed about Aruba, until promotion on the island commenced after a prominent media practitioner, following his visit to the Dutch-speaking country, recommended Aruba as a must-visit the travel agent said.
Popular blogger, journalist and social media contributor, Gordon Moseley spoke extensively about his time spent in the Dutch-country and highlighted that they are offering a spectacular tourism package.
Roraima Travel Agency has also reported favourable bookings onboard Insel Air. The company which is also associated with the airline noted a steady growth in bookings to Aruba and Curacao.
Trips to Panama, which are being offered by COPA Airlines are still increasing as it is assumed that much is still unknown about the destination. Feedback from that port says that low cost items have travellers enthused. Local travellers have opted for the regional destinations, noting that it is equivalent or more expensive to travel to some domestic locations, such as Lethem.
COPA operates two weekly direct flights to Panama and currently flies to 29 destinations. The direct flights to Panama allow for easy connections to COPA’s Latin American destinations, and further allows for easy connections to other international destinations.
Insel Air offers flights to Aruba, Curacao and Miami, with connecting flights to other destinations.
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