Having grown up on an island that relies heavily on tourism, I knew that people of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds would flock to the islands to let their hair down and walk around in skimpy clothes. At one point, it got so bad that retailers had to post signs that required patrons to wear shirts and shoes before entering.

Caribbean vacations are especially enticing for women of larger sizes because it is well known in the islands, the more curves or ‘meat on your bones’, the more attractive you are. A woman who is a size zero would be teased for days and offered meals all day long

I say all this to point out that while there are some exceptions and a few stereotypes to spoil a small bunch, full-figured women are embraced more openly than our state-side counterparts. Combine that with the tropical weather, white sandy beaches, clear waters, and fruity drinks you have one of the most irresistlbe offers yet!

The Caribbean in general is a plus-size friendly place and there are great opportunities for any business owner to tap into a new market outside of the spring break 20 somethings. The plus-size market is  often overlooked within just about every industry you can think of but there’s a potential sweet spot in the travel business. Here are just a couple of travel events that are plus-size friendly:

USA Today recently reported that Hedonism II, a Jamaican resort decided to launch it’s first plus size friendly event “Big on the Beach” this summer where “Full-figured women who feel self-conscious on the sand next to skinny Minnies now can strut their stuff, even in the buff.”

I’ll be hosting a workshop at the Big Beautiful Women Empowerment Cruise coming up at the end of July where you can “leave your cares behind and sail to Grand Cayman Island and Ocho Rios, Jamaica for an excursion filled with informative seminars, fun, liberation and self awareness to help develop a stronger love and appreciation for the skin your in! ”

Business Opportunities: If you’re in the travel business, consider putting together vacations for the larger men and women who would like to frolic freely without being scrutinized or criticized for their size. Carnivals are a great time of year for people of all shapes and sizes to frolic and have a good time together.

If you sell summer clothing for big and tall men, this is a great opportunity for you to set yourself apart. For plus women, flattering and beautiful swimsuits, coverups, in addition to comfortable shorts are often hard to find in larger sizes. So ramp up your marketing for fun and flirtly summer dresses that are easy to wear and travel with as they will be in demand as well. Scuba diving gear in larger sizes could be a great niche as well.

If you’re a nutritionist or physical trainer then you can put together a guide of how one can enjoy the foods they love and participate in fun activities to stay healthy during vacations.

Thinking about applying these opportunities to your business, Let’s Connect to see what works best for you.

 

P.S.  What do you think of size-friendly vacations? Please share your thoughts below!