Barbados recorded an 11 per cent increase in long-stay tourist arrivals from January to April and a ten per cent decline in May.
But Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association executive vice-president Sue Springer said the island had not seen the corresponding rise in revenues.
Reporting on the tourism industry’s performance at the association’s annual general meeting at Hilton Barbados yesterday, Springer said operating costs continued to increase, citing rising utility rates and higher import duties on numerous items and the increase in the value added tax.
Against these rising costs, she observed that Barbados was operating in a global “buyer’s market”, where people were looking for discounts and deals and were now making hotel bookings up to three days in advance, compared with six months in previous times. (GC)
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