Even in the throes of a global financial meltdown Barbados continues to project a world class brand which appeals to the potential tourist. It is no secret that Barbados is very dependent on the tourist dollar to shore-up its foreign reserves. To a small developing state like Barbados the health of our foreign reserves is a security blanket which ensures we can sustain ourselves.
As the above picture shows the high end tourist continues to be lured by Barbados, Simon Cowell is no stranger to Barbados and is a regular on the ritzy West Coast of Barbados. As the saying goes birds of a feather flock together. Sir Philip Green is another Britisher with deep pockets who ran away from the freezing White Christmas up North in 2008 to enjoy the Caribbean paradise island of Barbados.
We understand from the media reports that many of these wealthy visitors to Barbados will be staying on to enjoy the Old and New Year celebrations.
It gives us a warm feeling to see the wealthy visitors frolicking in Barbados. It goes without saying that these rich visitors will leave a few needed dollars on the island. What should please Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy is the confidence Cowell et al continue to show in the Bajan brand by the several return visits. Given the exclusive club of the rich and famous which Sir Philip and Cowell are members, the value to our tourism brand is priceless.
In the coming months Barbados which relies on the tourist dollar to fund our large import bill will be working hard to let the market know that Barbados is the place to visit to get maximum return for their tourist dollar. We know from the media that Minister Sealy and the Barbados Tourism Authority have been busy meeting with the tourism partners abroad to ensure the tourism plan is solid to confront the global economic challenges which looms for 2009 and maybe beyond. Of interest is the plan to try to penetrate markets South of the border as a strategy to compensate for a predicted drop-off in the markets in the North.
We wish them well!
According to the Bermudan blog Vexed Bermoothes , Barbados compared to the other popular tourist destinations like Jamaica, Bahamas, Hawaii outspent these other popular tourist destination by a healthy number. It seems these numbers are from 2007 (we have not had time to fully research this matter), even so it says to us that tourism is important to Barbados just as the automotive industry is to Detroit. Until we can find ways to diversify our economy we all have to play our part to ensure that the Bajan brand remains protected and continues to shine to the world.
To Simon Cowell and Sir Philip Green we thank you for coming to Barbados, please continue to tell your friends to visit so that they can enjoy what little Barbados can offer. For peolple like yourselves who have hectic lifestyles the time-out which Barbados affords is priceless!
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