分类： world

The Caribbean tourism sector is demonstrating remarkable resilience during the 2025-2026 winter season, though emerging geopolitical tensions near Venezuela are creating new challenges for the regional travel industry and economic markets.

Winter tourism trends continue to show robust activity across the Caribbean archipelago, with destinations including Curaçao, Barbados, and the ABC islands experiencing significant benefits from increased winter cruise traffic. This surge has generated substantial revenue for hospitality sectors, service industries, and broader economic spillover effects for local businesses. Major cruise lines have expanded their itineraries to include more regional ports, capitalizing on growing global demand for winter vacation experiences.

However, recent security developments have prompted operational adjustments. Several cruise companies have temporarily modified routes to avoid ports near Venezuela, including Curaçao, following heightened maritime security concerns. These precautions come in response to reported quarantine measures implemented by the United States along oil and shipping routes near Venezuela, which have elevated perceived risks among international shipping operators.

While individual cruise operators seldom disclose specific reasons for route changes, tourism economists emphasize the economic implications: reduced port calls directly translate to decreased tourist spending at dockside facilities, retail establishments, restaurants, and transportation services, potentially slowing local economic growth.

Caribbean tourism ministries and maritime authorities maintain that the vast majority of cruise operations continue safely, with regional port cities implementing enhanced security protocols to mitigate risks. Nevertheless, passenger perception of safety remains paramount in the cruise industry, where even temporary security concerns can influence booking patterns and itinerary decisions during peak travel planning periods.

Industry analysts note that the Caribbean’s tourism economy remains fundamentally strong, supported by the combined strength of winter cruises, air connectivity, and recovering global travel demand. However, they caution that the region must maintain vigilance regarding geopolitical developments, maritime security, and international perceptions, as these factors can significantly impact tourism investment and economic performance.

In his inaugural Christmas homily delivered on Thursday, Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful address that centered on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza while issuing a universal plea for peace through dialogue. Speaking beneath the ornate balustrade of St. Peter’s Basilica—adorned with festive floral arrangements and red poinsettias—the pontiff drew poignant parallels between the Nativity story and contemporary global suffering.

The Pope’s message specifically highlighted the plight of Gazans who have endured ‘weeks exposed to rain, wind, and cold,’ extending his concern to refugees and displaced populations across continents. He described Christ’s birth in Bethlehem’s humble manger as analogous to ‘a fragile tent among us,’ creating a theological framework for addressing modern homelessness and displacement.

Beyond immediate humanitarian concerns, the pontiff addressed structural violence, referencing ‘defenseless populations tested by countless wars’ and youth ‘forced to take up arms who sense the futility of what they are asked to do.’ He criticized what he termed ‘the pompous speeches of those who send them to death,’ marking one of his strongest condemnations of military rhetoric to date.

The core of his theological-political message emphasized that peace can only emerge through genuine dialogue: ‘There will be peace when our monologues are interrupted and we, enriched by listening, kneel before the humanity of the other.’ This formulation presented spiritual humility as a prerequisite for geopolitical resolution.

The ceremony attracted thousands to the basiliek, with many documenting the solemn procession on smartphones. Despite persistent rainfall, faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square awaiting the traditional Christmas message and ‘Urbi et Orbi’ blessing from the central loggia. This Christmas also marks the conclusion of the Holy Year celebrations, scheduled to officially close on January 6th—the Feast of the Epiphany commemorating the Magi’s visit to the infant Jesus.

For the first time since 2022, Bethlehem witnessed public Christmas Eve celebrations as thousands gathered in Manger Square, marking a tentative return to tradition in the occupied city. The festivities, previously canceled or scaled back in respect for Gaza’s thousands of war dead, featured a restored Christmas tree replacing last year’s symbolic nativity scene that depicted baby Jesus amidst rubble and barbed wire.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the highest Catholic authority in the Holy Land, led the ceremonies after arriving from Jerusalem in the traditional Christmas procession. He called for “a Christmas full of light” as scouting groups from across the West Bank marched through Bethlehem’s streets, their bagpipes adorned with tartan patterns and Palestinian flags.

The celebrations occurred against a backdrop of severe economic hardship and ongoing military operations. Bethlehem’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed from 14% to 65% since the conflict began, prompting approximately 4,000 residents to leave in search of employment elsewhere. Tourism, the city’s economic cornerstone, remains paralyzed by military checkpoints, road closures, and movement restrictions that deter visitors.

Despite a fragile ceasefire in October that has been repeatedly violated, Israeli forces continue near-daily raids across the West Bank involving mass arrests, home searches, demolitions, and occasional lethal violence. This year has seen settler attacks against Palestinians reach their highest level since UN record-keeping began in 2006, with incidents including killings, assaults, and property destruction often occurring under military protection.

In a controversial move, Israel’s security cabinet approved plans to formalize 19 illegal settlements in the West Bank, drawing sharp condemnation from the UK, Canada, Germany, and other nations. These governments issued a joint statement warning that such unilateral actions violate international law and heighten instability risks. Meanwhile, over 570 Israeli settlers under police escort entered Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque complex, an act Palestinians view as violating the historic status quo of Islam’s third holiest site.