Tourism's High End Market Not Doing Very Well for Barbados
Georgetown.- Executive Director of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), Sue Springer has warned that "cancellations kicking and at the high end mostly" particularly among the repeat clientele.Addressing the Private/Public Sector Consultation held recently at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Center, in St Michael, the CEO said expectations are low regarding the winter season since booking are 15 per cent down for the December-April period, according to Caribbeannetnews. In an interview with the Daily Nation Springer remarked that they are projecting a "ten per cent down month on month through the winter season".
The BHTA executive director, however, urged all tourism sectors to "remain very focused and find the differential for Barbados" to cope with the global depression. Springer noted that advertising could make the difference. "Already the Government has recognized this and pumped an additional $10 million to assist with this"
She insisted, however, that innovation and difference are the ways out. "Already sun, sand and sea is very passé and we've already had to move into different areas of attracting people".