TOURISM in the Caribbean area, including Bermuda, could actually benefit from the economic downturn in the US as lenders, bankers and developers look to invest outside of recession-hit America.

So says one of the organisers behind the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference, due to be held here in April.

The event was last staged in Bermuda in 2003, but will return to the Fairmont Southampton for a second time this spring because of the island's popularity with delegates and investors alike.

"Bermuda is considered one of the more attractive destinations for opportunities which is why we are back again this year for a second time with the conference," said Richard Kahn, a publicist for the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, the interest group behind the conference.

The event will see hoteliers, tourism officials, and developers plus bankers and financiers from all over the world meet for three days in April to plan investment strategies for the Caribbean.

Among the topics on the agenda include managing debt while building a hotel in today's economy, 'green' development and putting together timeshare deals.

While media reports Caribbean-wide have suggested the islands may suffer as a result of the US recession, Mr. Kahn remains optimistic about the future for tourism in the region.

"The outlook for Caribbean tourism is mixed," he said.

"There is no doubt that the economic climate will create a challenging year for all destinations. However, just coming from the Caribbean Marketplace conference in St. Lucia, where nearly 1,400 delegates gathered to talk about the immediate future and how to deal with the down economy, both the hoteliers and tour wholesalers, many from across the world, were very optimistic about the future."

Last year's Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference saw a record-breaking 522 delegates meet in Trinidad to discuss ways to improve tourism facilities and infrastructure in the region. Mr. Kahn doesn't believe the recession will mean less interest in this year's conference in Bermuda – rather, he expects "more of the same" despite the downturn.

"The recession had already begun last year and we found that bankers, lenders and developers were looking at the Caribbean more than ever for their investments because of the economic climate in the US and elsewhere. We expect more of the same this year."