
by Adrian Loveridge
As we have now crossed the halfway stage of the winter tourism season, it is looking increasingly doubtful that any predictions of a strong performance in this sector will become a reality.
The January long stay visitor arrivals figures are especially alarming.
An overall fall of 8.2 per cent across all markets, but significantly concerning are the numbers from Canada, which saw a 18.4 per cent fall when compared with the same month in 2012.
The USA was down 11.1 per cent, the UK down 2.4 per cent and Trinidad down a staggering 40.6 per cent.

Adrian Loveridge, small hotel owner
Whoever assumes the office of Government later this week will finally have to take a long and hard look at current marketing strategies. Even if this is deemed an imperative, there is very little likelihood that any measures implemented at this late stage will make an iota of difference before April 15th.
So the next challenge is the eight long softer summer months.
After five years in power the outgoing administration had seemingly abandoned any attempt to fulfill their previously stated 2008 manifesto objective: to restructure the Barbados Tourism Authority.
This despite an overwhelming mandate to effect change – yet surprisingly it’s popped up again in the 2013 manifesto.
According to the Barbados Tourism Authority’s own website its declared mission statement is; ‘The Barbados Tourism Authority’s functions are to promote, assist and facilitate the efficient development of tourism; to design and implement suitable marketing strategies for the effective promotion of the tourism industry’.
I think the question has to be asked: Are these goals being successfully achieved in the most cost-effective and productive ways? Clearly there are challenges but every other regional destination is also experiencing the same difficulties. Continue reading →