A recent flare up of gunplay in Barbados has not gone unnoticed by tourism officials, who say they are concerned about the impact this could have on the already struggling tourism sector if not swiftly curtailed.
Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Geoffrey Roach said it was a topic of brief discussion during the association’s board meeting on Wednesday, and it was determined that the organisation would continue to support the Royal Barbados Police Force in its fight against crime.
“We did have a brief discussion on the issue of potential crime and its impact on the tourism sector. We discussed the support that we have provided to the Royal Barbados Police Force in the past and things we can do to support the force going forward to help manage, not just policing in tourism areas but the general crime in Barbados,” he said.
There have been several shooting incidents this month alone as the island officially reopens to commercial flights. On Wednesday one of those incidents left one man dead and two nursing injuries.
So far this year the island has recorded seven homicides, five of which have been as a result of gunshots.
“As you know, if you have an incident in Barbados you might have the British government or the US government putting out an advisory against travel. So for us from a product perspective we need to ensure that the crime situation in Barbados is managed in such a way that it does not impact negatively on potential travel to Barbados,” said Roach.
Roach said it was also important for officials to pay close attention to keeping the island clean, pointing out that the BHTA had already reached out to some local agencies to “collaboratively ensure the visual appeal of Barbados”.
“At the end of the day, while tourists will benefit from these things, as a social organisation we think it is necessary that these things are done so that Barbadians can benefit. Once Barbadians benefit tourists will benefit as well,” said Roach.
Meantime, Chief Executive Officer of the BHTA Senator Rudy Grant said it was important to control crime given the interest in community tourism among some travellers.
“The visitor who comes, looks for an authentic experience. They want to experience what Barbados is really like. They want to be able to go into the communities and experience the culture. The point I am making is that tourism in a real sense is about what is happening in Barbados. Therefore we are committed to continue working with the Royal Barbados Police Force to ensure that the issue of crime is something that is brought under control,” he said.
In 2020, the total number of reported crimes in Barbados stood at 7,079 compared to 7,660 the previous year. There were 42 murders last year, compared to 49 in 2019, one of the island’s deadliest.
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