The Caribbean could be close to breaking a record.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization is projecting that tourist arrivals to the region will exceed 30 million for the first time ever this year.

That would follow a record 28.7 million tourist arrivals to the region in 2015.

Tourist arrivals to the region were up by 7.3 percent in the first quarter.

“This performance was buttressed by lower oil prices and the strong US dollar, which increased the appeal of the region to potential visitors. The many air service agreements ensured that the region had adequate seats to facilitate the flow of travellers to and within the region,” said Richard Sealy, current chairman of the CTO.

The CTO has projected growth of between 4.5 percent and 5.5 percent in 2016.

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By Robert Di Pano
CJ Contributor

BIMINI — A major new hotel has opened its doors in the Bahamas.

Hilton at Resorts World Bimini held its grand opening this weekend, a highly-anticipated debut that brings a cutting-edge hotel to the 700-island chain.

Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie, who was on hand for the junkanoo-style opening ceremony, said the hotel’s debut was a “defining experience” for the Bahamas.

The property, which joins what was already one of the region’s top casinos, has a total of 305 rooms including 18 suites.

It immediately becomes one of the most modern hotels in the country and the wider region.

The opening marks the completion of the hotel’s second phase, which included meeting rooms, restaurants including a sushi bar in the lobby, rooftop amenities, a spa with five treatment rooms and a new connection to the casino.

That’s all in addition to what is the largest combined marina in the Bahamas.

The waterside pool at Hilton at Resorts World Bimini.

Also on hand are suites for high rollers and Diamond members.

One of the highlights is a rooftop infinity pool with a dramatic wraparound walkaway, along with the hotel’s signature swim-up suites.

“This is an example of how public-private partnership can work with development and service-oriented business,” said Bahamas Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe. “It will ensure that when we say it’s better in the Bahamas. we mean it.”

The wider Resorts World Bimini project has already catapulted Bimini into the second-most visited Out Island of the Bahamas, Christie said.

That’s been boosted, too, by the recent launch of daily seaplane flights from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini on Cape Air. The flights, which began operating earlier this year, mean the trip takes about 30 minutes. More crucially, passengers return to Fort Lauderdale though the private aviation terminal, meaning a far less crowded customs and immigration experience.

The resort should stabilize at around 720 employees, a significant boost on an island with a population of about 2,000 people.

The hotel becomes the second Hilton-branded property in the Bahamas, joining Hilton British Colonial in Nassau.

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By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

Is this France’s Tree Of the Year? The owners of Martinique’s Habitation Cèron (and likely the entire population of the French-Caribbean island) think so.

And they hope you will, too.

That’s because the 300-year-old Zamana tree, on the grounds of the 17^th-century sugarcane estate in Le Prêcheur, is a nominee for France’s fifth annual Arbre De L’Année (Tree of the Year) competition. A single tree is nominated in each French region, and Habitation’s Ceron magnificent specimen, which has an eight-foot-diameter trunk, is Martinique’s entry.

All the nominees are listed on the competition website, abredelannee.com, and the public can vote for their favorite tree from now through August 31.

To complement the competition, Habitation Ceron is also running a Facebook photo competition, and will award a prize every 10 days for the best picture of the Zamana tree. Go to their page, Facebook.com/HabitationCeron, for more details.

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In the beginning, there was Kali.

Long before St Martin was one of the Caribbean’s top travel destinations, there was Kali. Just Kali and his beach bar.

This is Kali’s, the first beach bar in St Martin when it opened on Friar’s Bay almost 36 years ago.

And today, the legend remains, serving cocktails and ti’ punches and lazy afternoons to all those who make the trek to this less-traveled sweep of sand on the French side.

“This is the place to be in paradise,” Kali tells CJ. And he’s exactly right.

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St Barth — it’s perhaps the crown jewel of the Caribbean, but that can often mean some of the region’s highest prices.

In the summer, though, St Barth is just as beautiful, but the crowds thin and so do the rates.

It makes staying in St Barth far more affordable, especially if you go for a villa.

So if you’re thinking of a villa vacation this summer, here are two great options from the island’s leading villa management firm, St Barth Properties.

Villa Le Boudoir

First, Villa Le Boudoir, a one-bedroom villa aimed at a romantic getaway with its own private soaking tub, outdoor bar and pool terrace; this summer, guests can receive a 30 percent discount and a continental breakfast each morning, paying $3,750 on 7-night stays between June and Sept. 30.

Then there’s Villa Anastasia, a three-bedroom villa with spectacular views that starts at $7,570 per week, or about $2,000 in discounts, if booked by Sept. 10.

So what are you waiting for?

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