Tropical Wave;
you're absolutely correct!
The Irony is that many of us know this, but the only way it can happen is if the populations that elect politicians can see the light, as with so many other issues!
Local/regional politics revolves around personalities and nationalistic themes, this is not conducive to a regional approach to anything other then economic decline and emigration of the "best and brightest"
I'm obviously not amongst those as I am still here!
In the meantime the "big boys" be they airlines or cruise lines, continue to reap the benefits of our small mindedness!
fluf