This weeks column comes from within the United Kingdom with the continued Brexit debacle hanging a massive question mark and uncertainty over the tourism industry. While the value of the Sterling against other major currencies has for decades been volatile, tour operators are left to second guess what a realistic exchange rate will be for the US$ and Euro next
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The announcement that one of our neighbouring Caribbean islands is shortly going to implement a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) is an interesting development. According to the UK Government website ‘a Tourism Satellite Account is a set of tables based around analyses of data, on both expenditure by tourists and on business sectors which serve tourists. A TSA provides a much
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During the 30 plus years my wife and I have lived on Barbados we have tried to take at least a couple of short breaks within the region or locally each year. Having chaired, and or sat, on various tourism committees over those three decades and being a frequent commentator on the sector, I have always felt obliged to know
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What practical measures could we implement to help negate the consequence of the falling value of Sterling and make Barbados more affordable for our existing and potential British visitors? My thoughts are, that we have to think way beyond the very basics, like flights and accommodation and look for smart partnerships which will bring the overall cost of the holiday
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Barbados has been hugely successful in attracting new airlift and all our major markets have largely benefited, most notably the United States. The new German Wings upcoming three flights each week from Frankfurt hopefully will dramatically increase our Continental European visitors. Not just from Germany, but from all the bordering countries that enjoy seamless rail connections to the adjacent Frankfurt
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The peak winter season is over. Ahead of us are eight long softer summer months and every creative fibre throughout our national body should now go into hyperdrive to help maximize our tourism potential until December. We need our food and wine distributors to become more ardent and see how better they can work with our hospitality industry to jointly
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The embedded documents support a view the government has backtracked on a promise made to employees at the BTPA and the Barbados Workers Union. In the interest of transparency and integrity it is important for the Mia Mottley led government to clarify the matter if it is to sustain the confidence of the people it serves. The last thing the
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