The business of tourism has been affected by the global recession precipitated by skyrocketing energy cost and the inevitable meltdown in world economies. Air travel has now become a very expensive undertaking. A Google will return any number of hits on the losses projected for the airline industry in 2009.
All the major tourist markets on which Barbados depend have shown decline. One market which has historically been given any significant highlight is intra-regional. Over the years the leading Caribbean islands have shown impotence when managing the regional network of airlines.The irony for Barbados and many of the islands has been the decision to build state of the art airports which have business models that require high taxes to ensure a good return on investment.
Against the above we are pleased to hear about the initiative being coordinated by Adrian Loveridge called re-Discover. Almost single-handed he has been responsible for coordination the re-Discover Expo for the last eight years or so. As we understand it the event brings together several of the best small hotels from twenty Caribbean islands and other supporting businesses. Barbadians and others will have the opportunity this weekend to view with their own eyes the best kept small properties and ancillary bargains in the Caribbean. Loveridge appears to be doing his part to compete in a very crowded market.
Many will remember Adrian Loveridge for that time when he had to suffer through a VOB talk show by sitting in a different studio from former Minister Noel Lynch. The radio station admitted after that it was the only way Lynch would agree to the interview. Truly a dark day in the history of the Fourth Estate in Barbados.
Others remember him as a committed Barbadian who is passionate about tourism, an industry he has served for over forty years.
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