September 2015 Issue Business View Caribbean

8 September 2015 - Business View Caribbean Top Caribbean Business Travel Destinations The Caribbean isn't just a destination for fun in the sun - it's also a vibrant business destination. Of course, the $20-billion-plus tourism industry plays the biggest role in the Caribbean economy, but business trav- elers also are drawn by offshore finance and banking interests and industries like pharmaceuticals and energy. Here’s a list of some of the region’s top business-travel destinations: 1. Puerto Rico - The Caribbean’s shopping and entertainment hub. 2. Trinidad and Tobago – Home of the region’s vibrant energy industry and soon to host the headquarters of the Association of Caribbean States. 3. The Bahamas – Nassau is the region’s hub for financial services, meetings and conventions. 4. Barbados – Tourism is tops, but finance and information services are gaining ground. The Lloyd Erskine San- diford Centre hosts one of the Caribbean’s largest meeting facilities. 5.The Cayman Islands – 60,000 companies shelter their taxes here. The Caymans even have their own stock exchange. 6. Jamaica – Tourism reigns but mining remains important. Downtown Kingston is the major destination for business travelers. 7. Dominican Republic – One of the Western Hemisphere’s major U.S. trading partners, thanks to its free-trade zones. 8. Aruba – Home to a major oil refinery and a growing number of offshore financial institutions.