The Barbados tourism sector has taken a nosedive so far for the year.
For the nine-month-period ending September 30, 2013, the sector recorded a decline of 6.3 per cent in long stay tourist arrivals when compared to the same period last year.
That was compounded by the closure of the all-inclusive Almond Beach Resort, reduced flights out of some major markets, as well as a reduction in tourist spend which resulted in a decline in retail revenue of between 10 to 20 per cent over the period under review.
There were declines in visitor arrivals from all major markets with Trinidad, the largest CARICOM market recording the largest decline of 17.2 per cent. The UK declined by 2.9 per cent, Canada 7.3 per cent and the United States 9.6 per cent.
The dismal performance of the sector was shared today during the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) third quarterly general meeting at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
Full story in tomorrow’s DAILY NATION
