Key stakeholders agree on action plan to improve OECS intra-regional travel

liat travel

Tourism and civil aviation officials, airline representatives and regulators, as well as regional and international organisations, assembled in Antigua & Barbuda on April 22nd to discuss and validate the findings emerging from a Study commissioned by the OECS to empirically investigate the key factors that inhibit the growth of intra-regional travel.

The impressive representation of all of the key players in tourism and civil aviation in the region was regarded as testimony to the critical importance of the matters to be discussed and the urgency with which they need to be resolved.

• The Consultants for the study were advised to approach the project with the following key guiding principles:
-The Study must add critical value to work already undertaken on the air transportation sector in the region; and
-Should offer viable, practical resolutions to the challenges related to air transportation

At the Antigua workshop the officials engaged in intense deliberations on
1. The dynamics of the OECS Intra-Regional Travel Market
2. The Structure of Airfares
3. Airline Network Connectivity; and
4. The Legal and Regulatory Framework.

These discussions culminated in general consensus on practical solutions to address issues inhibiting the optimal expansion of intra-OECS travel, some of which include:
• Adjustments to OECS Destination Product & Promotion Strategies to attract increased visitation from neighboring islands
• Arriving at a feasible approach to the reduction of TFC’s (Taxes, Fees & Charges) on airline tickets for Intra-OECS travel, based on sound financial and economic analyses undertaken jointly by the OECS Commission, the ECCB and OECS Member States’ Ministries of Finance
• The establishment of a one Stop Security Check system
• The development of an OECS MASA (Multilateral Air Services Agreement) consistent with Article 19.8 of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre, which calls for the establishment of a single Economic Union Area Air Space.

The meeting funded by 10th EDF was convened at the Jolly Beach Resort & Spa. The OECS Member States of Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Montserrat, Saint Lucia as well Saint Vincent & the Grenadines were represented. Delegates from Martinique were also in attendance. Airlines represented were LIAT, SVG Air, Grenadine Airways, Fly Montserrat, Air Antilles and Air Caraibe.

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, the International Air Transport Association and CARICOM were also represented at the workshop.

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7 Comments

  1. LIVING OUTSIDE
    April 29, 2015

    how about the international airport skerrit won election speaking about in in last election what happen the chineese changed their minds? or was that another thing to fool the people?, how about the cruise terminal at canefield blackmore said that’s approved?, why would one approve something and then speak about expanding the bayfront project in Roseau?.. WHY ARE DOMINICANS FOOLED SO EASY?.

    ROBBY TONGUE YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THAT BEFORE YOU ARE SOAKED INTO ALL THESE NONESENSE….

  2. Malatete
    April 28, 2015

    I note that apparently Winair, Hummingbird Air and Seabourne were not present. Was this deliberate or merely an oversight?

  3. Citizen Kane
    April 28, 2015

    Typical Caribbean Govt – EU International NGO majee !
    Employing consultants and paying them millions to tell us the obvious.
    Just remove the hindrances already identified above…. This is not rocket science!

    • Zandoli
      April 28, 2015

      The bureaucrats in the Caribbean are just a bunch of talking heads. Not one of them has any vision, and that includes the various heads of state.

      All we get is talk, talk and more talk.

  4. kesner alfred
    April 28, 2015

    From my undestanbing,air traffic is a big problem for oecs contries, so I am advising the leaders (oecs) to take such of decition by negotiating with world bank to finance an oecs iway where we will be able drive our cars than to take a plane and also we need a serius internatonal airport in on of the oecs country.these projects will help to improuve people life in the oecs.

  5. grell
    April 28, 2015

    Will be the same bad service,as long as liat remains in Antigua progress will never happen. :twisted:

    • budman
      April 29, 2015

      grell, though you have never been mistaken for a scholar, even you must realise that the issues raised in the article, assuming you actually read it, were neither a Liat nor Antigua matter, but rather a matter of public policy on the part of OECS member states. *sigh*

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