Submitted by Due Diligence
In his recent release, the Governor of the Central Bank has reiterated the claims of the Minister of Tourism and the Minister of Finance that airlift has increased for the current winter tourist season and the tourism outlook has improved. Presumably the increased airlift is largely represented by Air Canada’s replacing its daily flights from Toronto with an Airbus 321 (175 seats), to Boeing 777 (350 seats); an increase of 175 seats per day or 1,225 per week. That is a good thing.
It is reported that Air Canada’s increasing its capacity is largely the result of pressure applied by Sandals to ensure it has the airlift to fill its 280 rooms (560 guests per week). That should be a good thing for other tourism services, restaurants, night spots, historic sites and others. But will there be a spin-off from Sandals’ guests to other tourism business in Barbados?
Not according to this TV ad I saw on TV here in Toronto.
http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7NkD/sandals-resorts-no-wallet-necessary
The message is clear – when staying at Sandals you can leave your wallet at home, because at Sandals it’s All Inclusive, All Unlimited, All the Time.
See the two-page spread in Travel Section of the Toronto Star, same message -at Sandals it’s All Inclusive, All Unlimited, All the Time embedded and see pictures of the Star Ad embedded.
So when a Sandals guest has 11 gourmet restaurants and 6 bars and lounges serving premium brand liquors (Mount Gay?) and wines, and unlimited everything, there is very little incentive to venture out into the mean streets of Barbados; unless of course a quick trip to The Gap to pick up a bit of weed.
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