BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRESIDENT-elect of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Gregor Nassief, has expressed disappointment over Caribbean Airlines' decision to discontinue service between Trinidad and Tobago and Dominica, warning that the move could have far-reaching consequences for tourism and regional connectivity.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago recently announced that Caribbean Airlines (CAL) would cease operations on routes to Dominica and St. Kitts and Nevis, citing financial losses of more than US$2.3 million on the services. The airline officially ended the routes at the start of June.
Speaking during an interview with Caribbean Pulse News, Nassief said the loss of the Dominica-Trinidad route would negatively affect leisure and corporate travel while undermining efforts to strengthen multi-destination tourism within the Caribbean.
Nassief publicly appealed to the Trinidad and Tobago Government and Caribbean Airlines to reconsider the decision, noting that the route's losses were relatively small compared to some other destinations served by the airline.
He argued that new routes require time to mature before they can become profitable.
"I fear that the potential of this route was not given sufficient time. I really hope that CAL is able to re-look at that. As we talk about external shocks to the Caribbean, high airfares and rising prices, the Caribbean needs to look internally to itself as a domestic market for tourism, corporate travel, sports and entertainment," Nassief said.
The hotelier emphasized that affordable and efficient inter-island connectivity remains critical to the region's tourism development, warning that the cancellation of the Dominica-Trinidad route not only impacts direct travel between the two islands but also weakens efforts to promote multi-destination tourism.
"For someone who comes to Dominica for five days and then wants to go to Trinidad, it is such a beautiful pairing. Visitors can experience Dominica's nature and then enjoy everything Trinidad has to offer," he explained.
Nassief further noted that the route served as one of the most efficient gateways for travelers coming from major markets such as Canada and the United States.
"It was one of the most efficient ways for someone to come from JFK to Dominica through Port of Spain because we don't have any service to JFK or to Toronto. And it is a loss for us and fr Trinidad on multiple levels," he added.
He warned that the loss of the route represents a setback for both Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago, arguing that stronger regional transportation links are essential for creating a resilient Caribbean tourism industry.
Addressing the wider issue of regional travel costs, Nassief criticized the high taxes imposed on Caribbean travelers, describing them as a longstanding obstacle to regional integration.
"It's two decades overdue. It is crazy that, as a region, we tax our travellers up to 50 percent while the average international travel tax is around 15 percent. We make it so difficult for our own people to travel," he stated.
Nassief believes the Caribbean is losing billions of dollars in economic activity because of the high cost of inter-regional travel.
He said the issue affects three major areas: regional movement for business, healthcare, sports, leisure and entertainment; the development of multi-destination tourism; and the region's ability to capitalize on future airlift opportunities from emerging international markets.
Looking ahead, Nassief suggested that direct flights from emerging markets such as the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America could become a reality. However, he stressed that these services would likely operate through major Caribbean hubs rather than serving multiple islands directly.
