The cynical me wants to shout from the rooftops that this video interview of the head of the BTA, David Rice, illustrates how many mistakes the BTA has made in the recent past.
But then I watch it and see a sincere man admitting mistakes and explaining the learning curve in new markets.
Mr. Rice goes into areas that the average Bajan doesn’t think about – for instance that air carriers demand monies and occupancy guarantees before they take on a route.
As Mr. Rice explains things, air service is the biggest challenge. We are a small market, so the air carriers demand guarantees. While I believe there is room for dramatic improvement at the BTA, Mr. Rice has given me a new perspective on the challenges that he and the BTA face.
Truth is though, I believe that our product is well past its ‘best by’ date. You know we’ve been showing 20 year old videos and photographs of certain beaches. The tourists come and say “Wuhloss! Where’s the picture perfect beach and sea? What’s with the garbage and plastic bags along the side of the road?”
You KNOW that’s what they say.
I sympathize with Mr. Rice, but I want to know: What are we doing to make our product the best it can be? As far as the Barbados Tourism Authority goes, it is all about show, not go. The BTA doesn’t concern itself with product quality: only with the best presentation of our Barbados brand.
It’s time to change our focus to quality. That is the long-term view – anything else is fooling ourselves.
Barbados Free Press 
Not an easy job and to a certain extent Mr. Rice has had his hands tied behind his back. No planned BTA re-structuring with a planned seperation of marketing from product, which perhaps could have better recognised the problems at Almond. No Tourism White paper or Green Paper or Master Plan, despite all the talk, town hall meetings, full page ‘ads’ etc. Budget limitations and in my humble opinion, a far less than perfect US based advertising agency. A Tourism Advisory Council that seems silent. I could go on but who really cares?
@Adrian Loveridge :You are so right,but all good as long as the money passes!!!!
Need to take care of Barbados and its People first , Same old mess , worried about what others think before they come here . Clean up the house before the party starts.Government needs to take care of its People firsts. If another plane do not land!. Will we all die? Or will we plant and fish and be happy. Business is great The People needs comes first.
Church !some of the biggest crooks run the churches under the name of God. Barbados is not a holy place in the world like other Nations may have ,Church and state need not join for the money. God charge no one funds .
Yes exactly that is it “who really cares?”!
And who is telling the truth is not heard.
The major problem is that the most Bajans believe what the politicians, the Nation News, the Barbados Advocate, and the The Boss of the worker Union, etc. tells; this means they are completely uninformed. They think to say nothing solves the problem. A behavior like hundreds years ago. And if the teaching staff in this country think they can solve a school problem with a prayer session, so what can I say?
“What are we doing to make our product the best it can be?”
You only have one chance and this is not a real chance:
Dismiss the BTA members.
Then send all the people who work in the tourism industry to school and coach them. No, not in Barbados, abroad. Send them to learn for 6 months, on the perfected art of a thing, to Europe or the USA / Canada.
Why? If you want to train them in Barbados, who will them give lessons, Bajans?
Times have changed radically. Especially for the tourism industry in Barbados. Tourism was for decades a sure-fire success. The BTA did what they do best, they have gone asleep. Now It’s over
and what do the Bajan and there leadership? They don‘t care! They still sleeping!
And when you give a well-intentioned advice then you must listen these arrogant stupid people who say “you don’t telling me what we should doing“!
Have these people ever have an idea what it means directly or indirectly 80% (don’t tell me it is lesser – I am not a politician) of the income of the state comes from tourism? What this means for all Bajans? Clearly it is not easy to work in a hotel if you would prefer to be a technician or an medical doctor or what every else.
There is a choice. You are working professionally in what you do and you manage a good standard of living, or you can lie down on the beach and count grains of sand, and when a flying past you can can try to catch it and satisfy your hunger.
Many Bajans go every day in the Church. Know they Bajan what Humility is? Believe me those who don’t know will learn it.
Are we now looking at a dying tourism industry, or should we attribute its difficulties to the economic vicissitudes of the modern era?
Some critics have argued that it is within the best interest of the Barbados
government; to shift its focus away from tourism as the main industry for the economic prosperity of the island.
But, I see it quite differently, because I believe that it within the best interest of the Barbados government, to find alternative ways of confront the challenges the tourist industry is experiencing, in today’s economic atmosphere.
Let’s face the facts, an island located in the Caribbean archipelago no more than one hundred and sixty six square miles, with a workforce with lacks the scientific and technological competency that is needs to compete in a global economy. What else does Barbados have, but tourism?
For one, Barbados lacks the real- estates/ natural resources, and can’t even defend itself effectively from its neighboring foes. Barbados is in essence, a tentative economy which is heavily reliant on the United States and Europe for its sustainability.
Experts would tell you that of the some forty one active islands governments, which comprised the Caribbean archipelago. All but, Cuba to some extent is heavily dependant on North America and Europe for their economic sustainability.
I would argue with anyone both intellectually and philosophically, that if for some unforeseen reason. The United States of America or Europe removes its economic hands from the Caribbean. That overnight we would
experience a situation not to far different from that of the African Continent. I don’t really know if the people on the Caribbean archipelago really realize it, but their live every day on an economic slippery –slope.
The economic predicament that the islands of Caribbean potentially face, should inform Caribbean leaders, that there is a pressing need for better region cooperation, and understanding.
Instead of begrudging those who live abroad we should eulogize them every day. Because, where would Barbados be haven’t for the relatives who live in the United States, Canada, and England. Who labor’s every day to send the foreign dollar home to support their next to kin?
If I am in Dallas and want to take a trip to Barbados American Airlines want $797…..but if I want to go to Jamica I can do that trip return for $280. So where am I and my family of 4 going to go for a vacation. For the price of tickets to Barbados I get the whole vacation in Jamica.
The sad thing is that Spirit Airlines who offer very competitive flight costs to Jamica and other Caribbean destinations don’t fly to Barbados. Why is it that?
Tourist authorities on the island seem to know that legacy carriers are not going to fill their rooms….and this is especially true for the small hotels where their guests want value.
If If we had Spirit there is no doubt in my mind that packages could be put together for a 7 night stay in Barbados for under $800 US per person. Whether it is Spirit, Allegiant, Xtra Air, or another flyer it can be done if somebody wants to take the initative to make it hapen.
Watcher,
point taken, but if you use your miles then its only $51.50 return plus 35,000 miles with AA.
@adrian
where and how willI get the 140,000 miles for my family?
If we are down to relying on air miles for tourists we are in deep doodoo. I woul rather bet my money on spirit than airl miles
Barbados is beginning to see and feel the effects of being complacent about its tourism product. Bad roads, high prices. poor ambassadors, poor service, poor policing, saturated hotel market some of them very low standard it all helps to put off visitors from returning to the island. I believe the egotistical arrogance (they will always come) shown by this and previous governments is also part of the problem. I also believe that the powers that be live by the “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” maxim. Then again becoming a financial centre maybe their new trick but that is also being put at risk by the amount of theft and corruption that is now being exposed on a regular basis. The world wide economic recession is a major part of the problem as when it comes to tightening belts luxuries are the first casualties, holidays in far off tropical islands can be considered expendable when hard times hit. Every cloud has a silver lining and this cloud may be what is needed to wake Barbados from it’s slumber and show it the need to stop being so dependant on tourism for our forex.
@Watcher: Guess you could buy them .I think it cost about US$27.50 per 1000 Approx US$3850.LOL
We are about to return to the UK from our 14th and highly enjoyable visit to this beautiful island and may we also say its warm and friendly people. We do find some of the comments above disturbing but they are eerily and remarkably close to those being voiced about Torbay, Devon in the South West of England.
Barbados you are not alone!! But please take heart.
Here too the steady decline in its tourism has been caused by complacency and lack of focused investment. Big money sadly does not guarantee an ongoing return for the people. It is I believe nothing more than a distraction, however welcome and impressive at the time. Sadly greed and corruption at all levels is always a possibility.
It is not for us to judge those in power in either regions but what we can agree with is that most of those in all levels of government have simply lost sight of the real world and its fundamental needs.
The above comments by Maverick certainly ring true, those in a service industry (particularly those in management) must periodically step outside of their box and comfort zone to enable them to understand how to deal with people and human nature at its best and worst!
Sadly unless they are encouraged or perhaps forced to recognise change they will always do what they have always done and achieve little. Recognising your own shortcomings is not easy and being told that you have some even harder to swallow, self denial is very easy!!
We leave Barbados however not with negative thoughts and we will certainly be back as often as time and money allows.
We have over the years been so pleased that despite all that has been said above and recognising that changes must inevitably come, the nature of the Barbadian people has changed little, you have much to teach the world about politeness,honesty and how to enjoy life.
Maintain those golden qualities and the future will be the better for it.
Rice does sound sincere and almost human in this interview, but the question still begs as to what exactly has HE done to improve the lot of Barbados’ tourism?
What new and innovative thinking and ideas has he brought to the table? What has he implemented? The moral at the BTA is low both in Barbados and the overseas markets as he has alienated all the managers with his lack of leadership skill and his inability to motivate and inspire.
The fact that if the head is bad the rest of the body suffers is well known and with Averil Byer doing and being paid for three jobs – Senior Vice President; Director of Marketing and Director of Communications, surely don’t help matters as she has proven to be quite incompetent as well.
Let’s face it, while there is no magic bullet that would instantly transform local tourism and upgrade plant, change attitudes of some locals and price food and accommodation more fairly, there certainly is more that could be done by the BTA to at least keep the BTA top of mind, especially in the “emerging” markets. That Dallas is suffering – one of the biggest hubs in the world – is an indictment in itself and to be a fireable offence for someone either here or in the US, as clearly enough is not being done – particularly when St. Lucia continues to have full flights to their shores from the same market!
That Rice is scheduled to have his contract renewed is as shocking as it is amazing as he has really brought nothing to the BTA and has surely made no difference to advancing Barbados’ case!