By STAFF WRITER, Guardian Business Desk

erica@nasguard.com

The Caribbean has done well in the overall performance figures for world tourism trends, according to figures released by the United Nations World Tourism Organization in Madrid.

UNWTO also reported that the Caribbean's performance in the tourism industry exceeded the global growth average by 5.1 percent.

According to that organization, world tourism is expected to grow 4 percent in 2007. There has also been a positive growth trend for the world tourism market for four years in a row.

"International tourism is likely to remain buoyant unless major incidents occur," reported the Madrid-based UNWTO. "Forecast growth of four percent in 2007, while slightly down on previous years (the annualized rise was 5.5 percent in 2005), coincides with WTO long term forecasts putting annual growth at 4.1 percent through 2020."

The positive performance of the global tourism industry has been boosted by the strength of the global economy, as well as favorable exchange rates benefiting European and Asian travelers.

In the midst of a positively performing tourism industry in the Caribbean, international and regional leaders have been suggesting ways the region could better manage tourism. During a recent meeting in London to establish closer ties between the UK and the Caribbean, it was suggested that more countries in the Caribbean should concentrate on tourism for economic development, with less focus on agriculture.

The Bahamas was also represented this week at a First Meeting of Greater Caribbean Ministers held in Havana, Cuba. Tourism leaders from the Caribbean advocated for a sustainable leisure tourism industry, which the Ministry of Tourism had said earlier this year it would focus on.