As Caribbean tourism rebounds, marketers are looking to Republican-leaning Americans to be among the first set of visitors to return to the region’s shores based on an in-depth social sentiment data analysis.

Hosted by New York-based The PM Group and its partner Sparkloft Mediain, in association with IATA and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, last week, the session revealed that Americans who “lean Republican” are less concerned about resuming normal activities, including leisure travel.

The PM Group, which is headed by the likes of former Jamaica Tourist Board deputy director of tourism for the Americas, Noel Mignott, and Alison Ross, as well as former secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Hugh Riley, notes that these prospective travellers are more likely to resume going to restaurants, salons, and sports events.

During the online event, which attracted over 500 Caribbean tourism planners, stakeholders and travel advisers, a number of additional prospects were identified as offering the best opportunities for restarting travel to the Caribbean.

Special guest panellist Filipe Pereira dos Reis, IATA’s director of airport, passenger, cargo and security for the Americas, presented the organisation’s Road Map to Restarting Aviation, designed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and restore confidence among consumers in air travel.