What Ails Tourism In Barbados

I checked the online Barbados papers this morning and learned that yet another up-market property is in receivership, Villa Nova in St. John. It?s seems like it was only yesterday that this hotel was winning all kinds of accolades and even made the coveted Conde Nast Hot List. So, the question is ? if Villa Nova can?t make it, who else can? Sam Lord?s and a whole bunch of other prominent hotel properties in Barbados are also in deep financial trouble, and many have closed. All of this in the context that it was just reported that Barbados just had its best year ever in terms of tourists arrivals ? including the fact that long term visitor numbers were also up.

IMHO, the problems are of our own making. Barbados is trying to market itself as an up market destination with precious little to show for all the over-pricing. There are very few good beaches and even those are being eroded and very little is being done about it. Duty-free shopping has been reduced to alcohol and perfumes, the roads are bad, customer service sucks and ?you can?t get there from here.? Fix these problems and we would see less Villa Novas.