Alec Sanguinetti says tourists want more than beaches – they want history.
The director general and CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association says the region has to address serious problems with competitiveness. And to do that, more consideration must be given to history.
“How competitive is the Caribbean product?”
Citing a $5 billion loss in tourism spend between 2000 and 2010 for the Caribbean, Alec Sanguinetti believes tourists are now looking for more than beaches and great weather. He told Guardian Business the cultural nuances that make various countries unique must take center stage.
“Travelers today are looking for an experience,” Sanguinetti said. “The beach is there. The people and the hospitality are there. We need to keep building on our attractions and culture, and not let our history disappear. ”
The comments come shortly after the formal announcement by Sanguinetti and local tourism officials that Caribbean Marketplace 2012 will take place in The Bahamas from January 22 to January 24.
While representatives from the Bahamas Hotel Association and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism trumpeted the arrival of the conference, Sanguinetti wished to “temper that” with what he considers a dose of reality.
He stressed that it’s not just dollars and cents that matter. “This is the worst crisis we have ever faced,” he told the crowd. “It is how we go up against it that is critical. If we continue the way we are, our numbers will continue to decrease. One of the reasons it is decreasing is less visitors and length of stay, combined with economic pressures. But there is another factor. How competitive is the Caribbean product? ”
… continue reading this article at Caribbean News Digital
Barbados Free Press 
Afraid your islands are becoming far too expensive for middle class tourists.
It’s fine for the rock stars and tycoons who don’t blink an eye at paying $200 a head in restuarants but with the normal family facing ever increasing pressure on their disposable incomes we can no longer afford your inflated prices.
Get over it! the economic meltdown has affected everyone and BGI has been using the outdated playbook for years. The historical part is nonsense in thinking that any 20 mile island can have a cultural diversity to attract additional tourism than those who is just looking sun and relaxing.is a non realistic thought process. Go to any lcity in the world and you will finad museums etc to whet the visitors appetite, can you find that on a small island? Wake up and get to deal with the situation as it is., revise the playbook or suffer the decline of the tourist dollar/euro. ,
Anonymous,
In many cases I agree with you BUT there are exceptions. TripAdvisor has just published their Travelers Choice Awards for 2012.
TWO of the 25 hotels listed under the BARGAIN category in the Caribbean are here in Barbados. Southern Surf and Peach and Quiet. It can be done and we are now full until April.
Just think how many hotels there are in the entire Caribbean and two are here in Barbados. Amazing eh!
CONGRATS to Southern Surf, and Peach and Quiet; but really in general Barbados is pricing itself out of the market especially with Cruise Ships disgorging passengers who walk about , buy nothing and return talking about how expensive everything is and how more convenient and less expensive to purchase their trinkets, drinks, meals, and ‘ local color’ via the on board ‘show’; and besides the Bajans have let their historic sites run down so Why waste the time for the day that we are here.
This is a multi headed problem, there are indeed some tourists that expect to shell out a $50 OR 50Euro and get the world – and indeed they do in places like Thailand etc Look for what sets us apart and work it. So far, lots of talk and foot dragging as everyone lazes around and counts on the beach. Wake up before it’s too late, look what happened to the record stores and now book stores, things change and you can find yourself horribly on the ropes!
If they did not have so many thiefing lawyers more 0f us would be returning home to retire.
Finally, someone who tells it like it is!
A good start but it requires a multi pronged approach of action!
@NYC/BGI
Your attitude is part of the problem, in that you are completely ignorant if you think that Barbados’ history has nothing to offer the visitor. The problem is that it appears that your attitude permeates this society and so, bit by bit, evidence of our history is being destroyed. Europeans, who are steeped in their own history, are keen to see how it has mainfested itself in other parts of the world. Americans relate their history as running parallel with ours. When money is tight, those just looking for sea and sun will go to the cheaper destinations that offer only that. The key, in an increasingly globalised and homogenised world, where international brands in hotels, fast food are everywhere, is to stand out as different. With its boutique- style hotels, and it’s lack of the huge number of franchise brands, and its heritage, Barbados can stand out from the crowd. When we finally grasp this point we will finally prosper.
Anyone vaguely interested in tourism, including our policymakers should read the 2012 TripAdvisor Tourism Trends Forecast. While this was compiled in the US (our second largest market) it could apply to other markets.
Reasons to travel:
1) Beach Trip – 44 per cent
2) Cultural Trip (ie: museum or historical site) 42 per cent
Just a two point differential.
Time to think and plan a little more.
My wife works in a touristy shop
has been saying for the last month or so
that Barbados is full of CANADIANS! -the only ones who have any money.
I think that Mr. Sanguinetti is on point. Beaches are great but there needs to be a higher value proposition than just nice sunsets. My group is looking at bringing Edu-tourism to Barbados. We will start offering highly specialized classes to corporate officers, lawyers and industry regulators in what has been traditionally viewed as a tourist setting. This will showcase intellectual capital that is to be found in the Caribbean…the mind is as prolific as grains of sugar and will be the next great export.