What a surprise!
The sight of the Stars and Stripes being hoisted over the newly opened US embassy in Cuba last week, was one of the most visible signs yet of the diplomatic rapprochement between the long-term foes.
If President Barack Obama gets his way, the US Congress will soon go further still and lift its 55-year-old trade embargo on the island.
Such a move would be a major boon to the Cuban economy, not least by unleashing a torrent of big-spending American tourists on the island, which has largely been starved of such arrivals for more than half a century.
This, however, could prove disastrous for some of the small islands elsewhere in the Caribbean which are heavily dependent on tourism. They could see much of the US tourism trade they have come to reply on decamping to the large, and quite possibly cheaper, new competitor in their midst.
… continue reading the Financial Times Cuban thaw poses tourism threat to Caribbean neighbours
Barbados Free Press 
Our glorious leaders have stolen everything since independence, and relied upon continued growth of our tourism industry. That’s over now.
Nothing left on Barbados now, and less in 5 years. Time to go to the UK or USA or watever place I can.
CUBA HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND THE BTA SAT ON THEIR HANDS THINKING SANDALS. HILTON AND MARRIOTT WILL BE THE SALVATION TO PROP UP THE CASH COW, TOURISM. IT WAS ON THE WAY FOR SOME TIME AND THE GOVT AND BTA BURIED THEIR HEADS IN THE SAND NOW IT SOON WILL BE REALITY AND BTA AND OTHERS WILL NOT BE PREPARED. END OF STORY!!
Yes, it’s all over now. Nothing left to sell. Garbage all over the island. Guns. Indifferent shop girls. Lawyers who steal from real estate deals. It’s all over now.
Barbados needs to develop historical avenues which Cuba has done over the years.
Tourists like historical aspects to add flavour to their vacation.
Barbados has a lot off history & historical sites, more must be done to promote this aspect of the Tourism experience.
WISHFUL THINKING THERE WAS ALWAYS A DIRECT CONNECTION WITH CHARLESTON SC AND THAT CONNECTION IS NON EXISTENCE TO THE BTA. IT IS A DIFFICULT WHEN THERE IS NO PLAYBOOK THAT US CURRENT AND A OLD TOURISM CULTURE THAT IS OUTDATED
My heart bleeds for both Cubans and bajans…..more so for the peoples of these “paradises” and other smaller islanders also.
Mass invasion by American tourists will now not only destroy them
socially but also culturally……sad very very sad indeed.
Back to the days of…
Rum and CocaCola searching for the Yankee 💲
Cuba to the days of Baptista……john de baptist ?
Paradise returns to colonial times….american colonialism.
Other smaller islands same ……recolonising…american style.
Sad sad future ! american expansionist policy/influence.
Solution
Migrate ……ticket to heaven.😇
SORRY BUT YOU NEED TO RETHINK YOUR THOUGHTS. CUBA REMAINED AS IT WAS DURING THE YEARS OF BAPTISTA AND CASTRO BECAUSE THERE REMAINED A CULTURE THAT DID NOT CHANGE, BGI CHANGED ITS CULTURE FOR THE HISTORY OF THE ISLAND TRYING TO COMPETE IN A GLOBAL PICTURE AND HAS NOT DONE WELL AT ALL, DRUGS ARE AND HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS AND HAVE GOTTEN WORST, GO TO SINGAPORE AND WHEN YOU ARRIVE YOU SEE A HUGH SIGN WARNING ANYONE SELLING DRUGS WILL HANG, RESULTING IN A DRUG FREE ENVIRONMENT, IN BGI THE GOVERNMENT FAILED TO STOP DRUGS BECAUSE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SELFISH REASONS, ON A SMALL ISLAND LIKE BGI IT SHOULD BE DRUG FREE EXCEPT WHEN NEEDED FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES
The Government will not do any thing like Singapore, our Politicians are the ones that are big up with the drug Dealers, they would be the first to go to the Gallows.
YOU ARE SO CORRECT IT GOES BACK A LONG TIME WHAT A PITY!!
Imagine if the same concessions given by the Government of Barbados are given to Mr. Stewart on Cuba?
GET READY ADRIEN TO SEE OCCUPANCY RATE DROP ESPECIALLY WHEN THE EUROPEANS START TO GO TO CUBA INSTEAD OF BGI. ALL INCLUSIVE LUXURY RESORTS, LITTLE CRIME, GAMBLING, UNLIMITED GOLF ETC, GOOD CUBAN RUM AND CRUISE LIKE SHOWS. NOW TO COMBAT CUBA WHAT DOES BGI HAVE TO DO SO THAT THE ISLAND CAN RECOVER. FIRST THING FIRST IS TO GET RID OF THE POLITICIANS THAT ALLOW DRUGS AND THEIR DEALERS, DEVELOP BUSY RACE TRACK SO THAT THE FORMULA ONE RACING CROWD COMES TO BGI, AND WHEN LEWIS HAMILTON, NICO AND THE OTHER RACING TEAMS VISIT BGI THE WORLD KNOWS ABOUT.JUST FOR STARTERS