2014年-世界发展银行全球_Connectivity_for_Caribbean_Countries___An_Initial_Assessment_120页_55mb

Connectivity for Caribbean Countries: An Initial Assessment

Core Content

This report, authored by Cecilia Briceno-Garmendia, Heinrich C. Bofinger, Diana Cubas, and Maria Florencia Millan-Placci, provides an initial assessment of connectivity challenges and opportunities in the Caribbean. It focuses on air and maritime transport systems and their role in economic development, competitiveness, and regional integration.

Main Viewpoints

1. Geographic and Economic Challenges

• The Caribbean is defined by its geographic location, with many countries being sea-locked and small in size, leading to high logistics costs and limited infrastructure development.
• These countries face high vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change, which increases infrastructure costs and the need for climate-resilient development.
• Regional cooperation and integration are essential to overcome these challenges, as they are not self-sufficient and rely heavily on trade and tourism.

2. Tourism as a Key Economic Pillar

• Tourism is a major economic driver in the Caribbean, contributing up to 12% of all jobs and 14% of GDP in 2011.
• The sector's contribution was valued at US$ 50 billion for 2011 and 2012, with 50% coming from indirect effects such as capital investment and supply chains, 30% from direct services (transport, food, leisure), and 20% from induced effects.
• The Caribbean Growth Forum (CGF) includes 15 representative countries (64% of the region’s population and 59% of GDP), and the report uses these as a case study to assess connectivity issues.

3. Logistics and Customs Challenges

• Customs and document handling account for 48% of total import costs, significantly higher than 34% in Singapore.
• Customs systems in the Caribbean are primarily revenue-focused, not trade facilitation, which leads to inefficient operations, high fees, and reduced competitiveness.
• High logistics costs are a major constraint on economic growth and trade, despite the competitive reliability of services in terms of time.

4. Air Transport and Connectivity

• The air transport network is not functioning as a hub-and-spoke system, with 82% of air traffic being intercontinental, and only 8% being regional.
• Intra-regional air connectivity is weak, with low passenger volumes and high market concentration.
• Minimum Revenue Guarantee (MRG) arrangements have distorted competition and led to unsustainable routes.
• Regional coordination is needed to improve air connectivity and route consolidation.

5. Maritime Connectivity

• Freight connectivity is supported by two hub-and-spoke systems: Trinidad for regional freight and Miami for international freight.
• Freight tariffs are high, and market concentration (low competition) is a key driver of these tariffs, with a correlation coefficient of 0.6 between market concentration and freight tariffs.
• Cruise tourism is a major component of the sector, but it also brings challenges such as spending concentration, infrastructure strain, and protectionist tendencies.

6. Opportunities for Improvement

• Alternative transport modes, such as inter-island ferries, offer cost-effective solutions and could enhance connectivity.
• Private-sector led services have the potential to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
• Regional integration is critical, especially in customs, air transport, and maritime logistics, to lower costs and increase competitiveness.

Key Information

1. Caribbean Countries Overview

• 15 representative countries are analyzed, grouped into:
  • Small Island States: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Regional Hub Countries: The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago
  • Continental Caribbean Countries: Belize, Guyana, Suriname
  • Fragile State: Haiti

2. Economic Indicators (2011)

*Data from Jamaica from World Bank (2014a).
**Current Account Balance data from IMF Indicators 2014.

3. Tourism and Connectivity

• Tourism contributes 2.1% of the global share in the sector with 20.8 million international arrivals in 2011.
• The sector experienced recovery after the global economic crisis, with an annual growth rate of 1.7% from 2005 to 2011.
• Tourism is highly dependent on transport services, including air and maritime, and high input costs (food, fuel) negatively impact its competitiveness.

4. Trade and Connectivity

• Caribbean countries are net importers, with current account deficits.
• Food and fuel account for 20% and 22% of total merchandise imports, respectively.
• Improved customs and logistics performance is crucial for reducing input costs and boosting competitiveness.
• Enhanced road connections to major production and consumption zones could also benefit trade.

Conclusion

The report emphasizes the importance of regional integration and coordinated infrastructure investment in improving connectivity. It identifies logistics inefficiencies, high customs costs, and limited intra-regional air and maritime transport as major barriers to economic development. Tourism and trade are highlighted as key sectors, and enhancing their connectivity is essential for economic diversification and growth. The Caribbean Growth Forum plays a central role in identifying barriers and prioritizing actions to promote private-sector led growth.