Gordon Brown’s Tourism Tax creating havoc

‘Airlines have cancelled more routes out of London than any other city in Europe as a direct result of the British government’s Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax, according to figures released by insurers.’
‘Industry insiders are worried it could add to the 76 routes already cancelled since March last year.’
According to Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, [...]

Policing Barbados: Stupid, Short-Sighted Choices Made By Successive DLP/BLP Governments

This excerpt is taken from our December 9, 2006 piece Crimes Against Tourists – Caribbean Governments Can’t Hush Up Victims Any Longer.
Here we are three years later (and after two years of DLP government), and as far as we’re concerned nothing has changed. Our government continues to dangerously underfund the Royal Barbados Police Force and [...]

Trip Advisor post about Barbados “ZR Hustling Pimps”

Editor’s Note: With 500 employees and some 25 million registered active users, Trip Advisor is probably one of the most influential travel websites in the world. (For some idea of the freeflow of ideas and information that happens there, read the Trip Advisor thread Barbados or Jamaica?)
One traveler recently posted an article about our ZRs, [...]

Barbados in the year 2050 – The vision of some…

Unless we change the course we’re on, Chinese will build the condos. Bajan maids will clean them. Your sons will wash the yachts.
… and your public beaches and open spaces near the city will be long gone.

My friends: the choices we make now may not impact us personally, but will our children and grandchildren be [...]

Articles about murdered tourist Terry Schwarzfeld disappearing from Canadian News archives

“Dear Barbados Free Press,
I thought you’d like to know the reason why past news articles about Terry Schwarzfeld are being removed from the web by Canwest. Ask yourself ‘How much was Barbados Tourism spending with Canwest before the incident? How much is Barbados spending on advertising with Canwest now?’ “
… received as an anonymous email [...]

How long before the next ZR tragedy?

There has been yet another tragic accident involving a speeding ZR van. The van smashed into two elderly visitors who were crossing Hastings main road near St. Matthias gap on Friday evening 6th Nov 09 around 3.30 pm.
According to a witness, the van was not in sight as the couple set out to cross the [...]

Who are the most influential Canadian Expats? Michael J Fox is #1, Wayne Gretzky #2… and OH MY!!!

The Canadian Expat Association’s list of “The most influential Canadian Expats” has just been published. Thanks to all BFP readers who sent us the story and to Google alerts too.
Here are the Top 5 Most Influential Canadian Expats as chosen by the Canadian Expat Association (website) and the public…
#1: Michael J. Fox (Actor, Back to [...]

Six weeks later: Still no Spanish, Portuguese language welcome on Barbados Tourism or Investment & Development websites.

Last week the government member for Christ Church West Central, Stephen Lashley, stood up in Parliament and talked about the need for Barbados to tap into new international markets for tourism and industry. As tactfully as possible (considering he is a member of the government), Mr. Lashley made the point that our Barbados Tourism Authority [...]

Tourists documenting our destroyed beaches, placing photos on the Internet

Environment Minister maintains silence on the destruction near Mullins Bay
The government of Barbados authorized groynes to be built into the ocean near the old Kings Beach Hotel. Only a few years later the entire area is suffering as the groynes accelerated the destruction of the area beaches.
“Word is getting out that Mullins Bay is a [...]

Tennis! Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniaki to battle it out in Barbados

Tennis pon de rock – November 28, 29, Barbados
With US$27 million in career prize money won, Serena Williams is the #1 player by winnings in history – and she’s coming to Barbados.
Shona is all excited and it looks like yours truly will be springing for tickets and handling the babysitting so the girls can see [...]

Jamaica’s Canadian tourism up 28 percent over last year!

Caricom Unity? Forget about it… it’s every country for itself in a fight for survival on the Tourism Battleground.
Jamaican Tourism Minister personally met with 300 Canadian travel agents in Canada’s Western Provinces
Despite the global economic crisis, Jamaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says a record number of Canadian tourists are expected to visit Jamaica this [...]

Private Barbados Tourism Impact Study highlights concerns with policing, environment and housing costs

Tourism Impacts – The Good, the Bad and the “Oh Oh”
Amit Uttamchandani of Pull! Push! blog recently completed his online study of Resident Perceptions of Tourism Impacts in Barbados with over 400 people taking the time to participate. The study forms part of Amit’s just submitted MBA dissertation. (Good luck Amit!)
Amit’s study validated some of [...]

Something must fundamentally wrong with the marketing of Barbados in North America

“Even with selling the ‘product’ below cost, we simply seem incapable of sustaining desirable airlift.”
… Adrian Loveridge in the September 22, 2006 BFP article Why is Barbados’ Marketing to American tourists failing?
Jet Blue and other carriers bring tens of thousands of new seats to Barbados. Will we fill them?
In 2005 the Barbados Tourism Authority spent [...]

Barbados Family & Friends Club – Good idea, good start making it happen!

A friend directed our attention to the website of the Barbados Family & Friends Club – an initiative by the Barbados Tourism Authority to encourage Bajans abroad and people overseas (Bajan or not) who love Barbados to encourage their friends and family to vacation in Barbados. There is a membership card with points for each [...]

Barbados Government & media focus on trees, coral and beaches. Wetlands are a forbidden topic.

“Wetlands” a banned topic in Barbados Media & Politics

Our newspapers, television and radio media are never lacking in articles and reminders about the importance of our natural environment. If there’s not a story in the Nation about cleaning up the gullies, there will be a piece in the Barbados Advocate about the bleaching of coral [...]

Push Pull Blog’s Tourism Study on Brass Tacks Radio, Sunday

Dear BU and BFP (as well as your respective readers!),
Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone for assistance with my questionnaire. In total, I collected 405 valid responses.
Secondly, as a result of some nifty networking on the part of Dennis Jones, of the Living in Barbados blog, I will be presenting a condensed version of the [...]

Idiocy! Government Minister Hutson says “Look to Latinos”, but Barbados Tourism Authority failed to establish Spanish, Portuguese language websites despite 10 years of begging by hotel owners

Those leaders who can… do. The rest of the politicians and tourism officials talk, talk, talk and then do nothing.
Minister of International Business and International Transport George Hutson gave a press conference last Sunday where he mused about the possibilities of targeting South American markets to fill the tourism void during the “off” season – [...]

Little Good Harbour getting ready for a Bajan Christmas

Dear Barbados Free Press,
Andrew & Patricia Warden own and operate Little Good Harbour on our West Coast as a family-run hotel. “Family-run” means that they are hands-on people, not that you’ll think you’re still at home during a miserable Newcastle January, if you get my drift. I won’t bore you with the big names who [...]

There’s nothing like an exposed septic tank on the beach to impress the tourists!

Has Environment Minister Denis Lowe seen the exposed septic tank?
If Barbados’ Minister of the Environment hasn’t seen this, we’d have to ask “Why not?”
If he has seen it, we’d have to ask “Why hasn’t he done anything about it?”
Our friends over at Mullins Bay Blog have the story: Owner hits the Internet to clear up [...]

Adrian Loveridge and Dennis Jones ask “Why not court the many and close South, Central & North American tourists?”

Two comments recently posted by BFP readers Adrian Loveridge and Dennis Jones question whether Barbados Tourism is paying enough attention to the large markets in the Americas. We’re chasing after the Chinese market which is fine, but why should we be ignoring a substantial market that is much much closer?

by Adrian Loveridge…
I am not [...]

Everyone Has The Same Idea: Chinese Tourism Will Save Us!

With so many countries looking for Chinese tourists, what can Barbados do to stand out?

What does Barbados have in common with Bermuda, Italy, the U.K., Guam, Georgia, New York City, the Emirates, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Australia, Canada, Viet Nam, Germany, Malaysia, Fiji, Ecuador, Montenegro, Egypt, France, India, Mexico, Thailand, Bahamas, Amsterdam, Indonesia and New [...]

Terry Schwarzfeld Tourist Murder: Preliminary Hearing Begins against accused Curtis Joel Foster

Widower of Murder Victim Schwarzfeld complains he is kept in the dark about trial
The Canadian news outlets are reporting that the preliminary hearing in the Terry Schwarzfeld tourist murder started today in Bridgetown, Barbados. Bajan Curtis Joel Foster is charged in the February 2009 robbery and murder of the Canadian tourist.
None of the Barbados [...]

Leroy Parris and CLICO – The NEW Pirates of the Caribbean and the rape of Sam Lord’s Castle

An American Tourist Considers Sam Lord’s Castle
I decided to post these pictures anyway: first, to show what future renovators are up against; second, to show CLICO’s attitude toward the property.
If I may speculate upon Bajan politics, on analogy with American and British politics, I think what we’re seeing here is an extortion tactic. “Nice place [...]

Questionnaire: Tourism impacts in Barbados

Hi BFP,
I would like to ask for your/the BFP reader’s help. I’m still short of responses for my questionnaire on resident perceptions of tourism impacts in Barbados. I’ve converted the questionnaire into an online format and it is available here:
Questionnaire: Tourism impacts in Barbados
As a result of our economic dependence on tourism, the purpose of the [...]

Murdered Canadian Tourist Terry Schwarzfeld Called “White Trash” – Senior Advisor to Barbados Prime Minister Publishes Articles on Same Racist Website!

Why Does Prime Minister Thompson’s most senior advisor publish articles at a website that calls Terry Schwarzfeld “White Trash”?
Early this year, readers from Barbados Free Press voted to remove the sidebar links to the Barbados Underground blog because that blog had become a racist hotbed – and also because they published reader comments containing threats [...]

We’re Happy Nicholas Cox agrees again with Barbados Free Press

Yup, once again Nicholas Cox has taken a position agreeing with an earlier Barbados Free Press article. It is always heartening to see that members of the local news media and frequently published writers still come around BFP once in a while even though we constantly criticize the Bajan news media on many levels.
This time [...]

Barbados Police Allow Thieves To Take Home Stolen Fish – No Charges

GRAEME HALL NATURE SANCTUARY, INC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bridgetown, Barbados
MONDAY, August 24, 2009
Email Contact:               news@graemehall.com
Archives and Art:          www.graemehall.com/reference.htm
Poachers Caught and Released by Police
On Saturday, August 15, 2009, a group of about 15 fisherman were found in the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary fishing illegally for its rare tarpon, the largest and most popular exhibit fish in the Graeme [...]

Barbados Ambassador to the USA Wows ‘em in Iowa – BFP Readers can follow up and invite folks to Barbados: Read How!

55 Foreign Dignitaries Tour Iowa – and the state newspapers feature our John Beale in syndicated story

Barbados Ambassador to the USA, John Beale, recently finished a five day tour of the state of Iowa that was sponsored by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. Beale was part of a group of 55 foreign dignitaries who were shown [...]

Taking Denis Lowe’s Cruise? Ask the Environment Minister about Mullins Bay.

Minister Lowe’s Cruise Vessel Usually Turns At Mullins Bay!

When we last heard from our friends at Mullins Bay Blog, Environment Minister Denis Lowe hadn’t shown his face at the site of the infamous 3 groynes that are destroying beaches in the area. The issue is that well-connected and well-financed developers were given permission by government [...]

Barbados Police Again Fail To Uphold Law At Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary & RAMSAR Protected Wetlands

Barbados Deliberately Neglects Enforcement of Wildlife Laws on RAMSAR Treaty Protected Wetlands
On Saturday August 15, Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary personnel reported at least 15 people boldly fishing in broad daylight from the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary boardwalk.
The Royal Barbados Police Force were called but as usual they didn’t respond for hours. I guess the [...]

Illegal Dumping Free-For-All In Barbados: No Charges, No Penalty if you are caught!

Troy Marshall, of West Terrace Gardens, was caught dumping in Casuarina Drive, Christ Church, by residents. Marshall, a landscaper, was made to clean up his mess on Tuesday morning, supervised by officers from the Oistins Police Station…
In June, Wade McClean of Mount Standfast, St James, was caught dumping in Wotton, Christ Church. A resident alerted [...]

Will Canadian Philanthropist Peter Allard Take Over Failing Barbados Tourist Attraction Ocean Park?

“We have run out of funds needed to push forward to a sustainable position.”
… Ocean Park manager Tracy Johnson
Ocean Park Aquarium Shutting Down August 30, 2009
The Barbados marine exhibition known as Ocean Park has been dying a slow death and bleeding investors since shortly after it opened in 2005. Everyone had hopes that the tourist [...]

Panama’s Tourism Arrivals Doubled In Five Years, Solomon Islands Up 8% Over Last Year – What About Barbados?

A few days ago our resident hotel owner, tourism guru and recently-fired Barbados Tourism Authority member Adrian Loveridge said “I hope we have a plan“ and pointed out that visitor arrivals from the USA to Barbados have been flat for the last seven years.
He also asked about the wisdom of continuing to spend gobs of [...]

Why Hasn’t Barbados Seen Any Growth In Visitors From The USA?

I hope ‘we’ have a plan.
In less than two months we will see the arrival of two new air services. Factually the return of one from Philadelphia (US Airways) and a brand new addition, JetBlue from New York!
There is no doubt in my mind that JetBlue aggressive pricing will drive new business, even though [...]

Lesson for Barbados – Mexican Hotel Builds Groyne To Steal Beach Sand: Government Sends In Navy, Police, Environmental Enforcement Agents!

Unlike Barbados, the Government of Mexico is obviously serious about protecting fragile coastline and beaches from corporations and developers that think they can do whatever they want to enhance their own beachfront at the expense of the environment and others people’s property and enjoyment.
“…some property owners build breakwaters in a bid to retain sand. The [...]

Rihanna: We Want Our Girl Back The Way She Was…

Maybe I’m just getting too old. Maybe I’m too traditional, but I liked this look much better…

Rihanna’s New Mohawk – or something – Haircut
Some thoughts by Ian Bourne: Did Chris Brown’s attack unhinge Rihanna? Gun tattoos, wears pasties and now butchers head – What’s Up?

British Tourist Shot, Robbed Near Sandy Lane Resort Barbados On June 4, 2009 – Victim Alleges Silence By Barbados News Media, Hotel, Tourism Authorities

“It did concern me that other British tourists who were staying at the hotel were completely unaware of what had happened. I am not saying it was deliberately suppressed but it doesn’t excuse the fact that no tourists were told about it..”
“There need to be warnings to British tourists that there are armed robbers operating [...]