tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86077025929919814712024-03-05T05:25:40.735-04:00Barbados TravelAdvisorNothing but the truth on Barbados travel.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-58800068184591486272021-06-21T07:20:00.002-04:002021-06-21T07:20:44.485-04:00A Fresh Vision For The Sea<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-1JU265AriM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-76911790620091759092021-06-04T11:26:00.000-04:002021-06-04T11:26:34.649-04:00Are You Prepared For Hurricane Season 2021?<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fDn-23xhFQg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-91459971751704973592021-04-07T11:29:00.000-04:002021-04-07T11:29:08.287-04:00St. Lawrence Gap Gets New And Improved Lighting<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gn2z0KY2O0k?start=287" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-59527028578059624502018-05-01T14:46:00.000-04:002018-05-01T14:48:51.963-04:00Creating a Caribbean cruising haven in Barbados<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi064JkdxfLo7Z5TplQTzQA5sM3HffE_mpYsgVWFt3Dy1oGfR2AyoqjPaqe5MLRPyvLFRXjWoMPirrqEybW5PPyCJUbhjERGVCFRhxN_I0xPV-ubrVMRNHi2QlYHGBnJAqFYsJg0W-Vt7Qa/s1600/portbb01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi064JkdxfLo7Z5TplQTzQA5sM3HffE_mpYsgVWFt3Dy1oGfR2AyoqjPaqe5MLRPyvLFRXjWoMPirrqEybW5PPyCJUbhjERGVCFRhxN_I0xPV-ubrVMRNHi2QlYHGBnJAqFYsJg0W-Vt7Qa/s320/portbb01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
"<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-size: 16px;">Named in honour of the Bearded Fig Trees that were once found in abundance on its shores, the Caribbean island of Barbados is renowned for its beaches, natural beauty, cultural heritage, year-round clement climate and its friendly inhabitants. The former British colony has long been a popular destination for travellers in the land-based tourism sector who are searching for Caribbean luxury, and it’s also fast becoming a firm favourite for cruise guests.</span>"<br />
<br />
Read more: <a href="http://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/creating-a-caribbean-cruising-haven-in-barbados"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/creating-a-caribbean-cruising-haven-in-barbados</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-91185201517822271412017-12-10T12:50:00.001-04:002017-12-10T12:52:48.370-04:00Merricks For Sale<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6x4VBYUXXuLB0tGmveouork9vV0tba9lAdjSoha0-GA12DuMXCOK3rAbIVxx0ZCtrT1qzA6FXBvW7MgfVBdMRQKo1n0dUuPrP04-40FRy5eplJsx1AMQI3Y_HWUKyoM0Fm60JbGw5_gD8/s1600/merricks-st-philip-1210173719-343x343.gif" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6x4VBYUXXuLB0tGmveouork9vV0tba9lAdjSoha0-GA12DuMXCOK3rAbIVxx0ZCtrT1qzA6FXBvW7MgfVBdMRQKo1n0dUuPrP04-40FRy5eplJsx1AMQI3Y_HWUKyoM0Fm60JbGw5_gD8/s320/merricks-st-philip-1210173719-343x343.gif" width="320" height="320" data-original-width="343" data-original-height="343" /></a>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helveticaneue, Arial; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.4em; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 21px;">
"It could be another three years before 1 000 investors are able to recoup the $128 million they pumped into the failed project at Merricks, St Philip.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helveticaneue, Arial; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.4em; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 21px;">
The same goes for Barbadian creditors of the Harlequin property, including Government, which is owed about $700 000 in land tax.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helveticaneue, Arial; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.4em; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 21px;">
Brian Glasgow, Bankruptcy Trustee for Harlequin Property (SVG) Limited - in Bankruptcy, has appointed Terra Caribbean in Barbados to find a buyer for the 70-acre property which was to be an upscale Harlequin resort. Work on the project stopped about four years ago.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helveticaneue, Arial; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.4em; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 21px;">
Terra Caribbean has not put a price tag on the beach-front land but it is estimated that investors pumped £48 million into the project. At current exchange rates that is the equivalent of $128.5 million.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helveticaneue, Arial; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.4em; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 21px;">
While those involved are hopeful that a sale can be concluded within six months, they have been told that in reality such transactions usually take between two and three years.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helveticaneue, Arial; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.4em; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 21px;">
In his second report issued ahead of creditor meetings in St. Vincent and the United Kingdom (UK), last month, Glasgow told them: “It is [my] view that in order to achieve the best sale price, resources should be made available to conduct a sale over a reasonable exposure period and we expect that a sale will take more than six months and perhaps as long as 24-36 months.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helveticaneue, Arial; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.4em; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 21px;">
At their recent meeting in the UK, creditors were told that Terra Caribbean’s effort to sell Merricks would involve “a six-month open-ended marketing campaign in respect of the plot”.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helveticaneue, Arial; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.4em; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 21px;">
“The campaign will be evaluated at the end of the marketing period and a decision taken on whether to continue with the open-ended approach, or to move to a structured process designed to drive towards a closing date. Current advice is that it has taken 24-36 months to achieve a sale of similar resorts,” said a memorandum from the Harlequin creditors briefing held in London on November 13.</div>
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In its information to prospective buyers, Terra Caribbean said the property “features 3 000 feet of cliff frontage as well as a cove beach to the southern boundary”.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helveticaneue, Arial; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.4em; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 21px;">
“There is no guide price and all interested parties are invited to submit an offer. Additional details and site visits are available on request. This is a unique opportunity to acquire a large development site on the south-east coast of the island,” it added.</div>
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Glasgow did not give an update on the other Harlequin property in Barbados, the H Hotel in Hastings, Christ Church. Millions of dollars in debt is also tied up in that venture.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helveticaneue, Arial; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.4em; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 21px;">
Glasgow said he would hold a further meeting of creditors in March or April next year." </div>
</blockquote>
Source: http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/108935/bid-sell-merricks
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-35070991973541724722017-02-18T23:04:00.000-04:002017-02-18T23:04:01.816-04:00Took 'em a while ...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoOH12vISO9J5z3w1bQ3jV8IlHyahyapSPZMxRK96PDWqFSNp9ZcahWxKsItNOTKoRdheTFZSK8xBSfEz9qFzvJwz3cgfmADrRwYJFKbUQ71btw4YOJKQNQOoz2bPVkAXNP9JfhTVXjki/s1600/the-merricks-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoOH12vISO9J5z3w1bQ3jV8IlHyahyapSPZMxRK96PDWqFSNp9ZcahWxKsItNOTKoRdheTFZSK8xBSfEz9qFzvJwz3cgfmADrRwYJFKbUQ71btw4YOJKQNQOoz2bPVkAXNP9JfhTVXjki/s400/the-merricks-2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE MERRICKS RESORT<br style="background-color: #e2dbcc; color: #000022; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 26px; letter-spacing: 1px;" /><span class="pageTitleSmall" style="background-color: #e2dbcc; color: #000022; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal;">BARBADOS</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) today charged David Ames, chairman of the Harlequin Group of companies, with three counts of fraud by abuse of position, contrary to section one of the Fraud Act 2006.<br />
<br />
It followed a four-year investigation by the SFO, with Essex Police, into the group of companies.<br />
<br />
The Harlequin Property scheme had endorsements from celebrities including former Wimbledon winner Pat Cash, golf legend Gary Player, football pundit Andy Townsend, TV property guru Phil Spender, and Liverpool Football Club.<br />
<br />
Off-plan properties are those that are purchased by an investor before they have been developed or completed.<br />
<br />
Ames, 65, a former double-glazing salesman from Wickford, Essex, began selling the properties at planned resorts across St Vincent, St Lucia, and Barbados, but many were never built, it is claimed by the SFO."<br />
<br />
Read more: <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/768822/Harlequin-Property-David-Ames-Caribbean-fraud-Serious-Fraud-Office-Pat-Cash">http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/768822/Harlequin-Property-David-Ames-Caribbean-fraud-Serious-Fraud-Office-Pat-Cash</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-20153020635641037952014-08-20T05:15:00.002-04:002014-08-20T05:17:22.413-04:00Foreign operator for Sam Lord’s<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.barbadostoday.bb/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/samlords_8562-433x650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.barbadostoday.bb/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/samlords_8562-433x650.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
"<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">As early as next month Barbadians should know which international hotel chain brand will operate the hotel to be constructed on the former Sam Lord’s Castle property in St Philip.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.7em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
And according to chief executive officer of the Barbados Investment Inc. (BTI) Stuart Layne, construction of the new hotel on the 58 acres of land should begin by June next year with a targeted completion date of late 2017 or early 2018.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.7em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Speaking to members of the media following a walk through of the property today, Layne said when the project <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5cc50ec7-98c3-40d6-a970-5f16e80fde32" id="f9ad8814-7b37-4366-972e-e65f43c1076f">commences it</span> should provide jobs for at least 500 Barbadians in the initial phase and up to 1,000 over time. He said over 1,000 “permanent jobs” are expected to be created once the property <span style="line-height: 1.5;">goes</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> into operation.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">"</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Read more: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.barbadostoday.bb/2014/08/20/foreign-operator-for-sam-lords/">http://www.barbadostoday.bb/2014/08/20/foreign-operator-for-sam-lords/</a></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.7em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-53880359393796486462013-06-18T15:34:00.000-04:002013-06-18T15:34:46.271-04:00Horror story beyond your imagination<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmJ8q3-K3HT2MlF1K_rulcGSdRxGGVfbOqCLQ1STOAtyq67TJcxI3mvimZoJh6r1CcX5HQtN4yLpXlsim_nYuaPZANsMKnrSW5iBCeixInGOgO0OPw1hAfTy-ubaoEzZv822iA-dk1dHC/s1600/kings_beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmJ8q3-K3HT2MlF1K_rulcGSdRxGGVfbOqCLQ1STOAtyq67TJcxI3mvimZoJh6r1CcX5HQtN4yLpXlsim_nYuaPZANsMKnrSW5iBCeixInGOgO0OPw1hAfTy-ubaoEzZv822iA-dk1dHC/s320/kings_beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: justify; word-spacing: -1px;">LAMENTING THAT BARBADOS’ tourism now seemed “like a horror story that has been just beyond your imagination”, Opposition Leader Mia Mottley said yesterday it was not beyond Barbados’ capacity to make the industry soar by attracting a million land-based tourists by 2020.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; word-spacing: -1px;">
<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8c5ad240-57d8-4026-8851-afab17dad970" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2d4bd744-d3b8-4def-8d9b-35190332dcf2" grcontextid="Mottley:0">Mottley</span> told the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) annual general meeting yesterday that there could be no economic recovery in Barbados without a tourism turnaround; and if <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1877a011-1bf1-4445-a60e-3e1f768854d2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2d4bd744-d3b8-4def-8d9b-35190332dcf2" grcontextid="her:1">her</span> Barbados <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="060c3743-4192-43c5-98d3-c9900f506bb7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2d4bd744-d3b8-4def-8d9b-35190332dcf2" grcontextid="Labour:2">Labour</span> Party held the Government, it would bring in a million tourists in seven years instead of only increasing visitors by 5 000 in ten years.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; word-spacing: -1px;">
Going back to 2003, she said Barbados had merely moved from 531 211 long-stay visitors to 536 303 in 2012 , while Aruba had in the same period gone from 641 906 to 903 934 visitors – a 300 000 increase.</div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: justify; word-spacing: -1px;">She said, however, the million-visitor mark could be achieved by increasing the island’s average occupancy from 60 to 85 per cent, while mobilizing capital to facilitate investment and building another 800 rooms by 2017-2018.</span>"<br />
<br />
<br />
Source: <a href="http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/mia-sets-sights-on-1m-tourists/">Mia sets sights on 1m tourists -- <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="741d093c-5338-4a6e-8545-fcd2da64afd6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="830983aa-8edd-4ea3-bc3c-df3fb7d4d85b" grcontextid="NationNews:0">NationNews</span> Barbados</a>: <br />
<br />
<a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk" style="font-size: 13px;">'<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="19c07a9f-d650-4302-be1f-628ea441e2fc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9f133f5c-80d9-4930-a167-cb301a5b9984" grcontextid="via:0">via</span> Blog this'</a><br />
<span class="GingerNoCheckEnd"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-51903760614508658312013-05-31T15:44:00.000-04:002013-05-31T15:44:17.787-04:00Royal Caribbean Orders Third Quantum Class Ship<br /><iframe width="420" height="236" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hScXsWCW0uE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br />
Notwithstanding a <a href="http://bbtravel.freeforums.org/another-cruise-ship-burns-t5729.html" target="_blank">disastrous fire at sea earlier this week</a> which left passengers and crew shaken, Royal Caribbean today ordered yet another <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="fbd1a548-4a77-404f-8f15-70b62b12bac5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3776e2ab-12ee-48a6-bfae-1423b3a790c3" grcontextid="megaship:0">megaship</span> to take you cruising the oceans:
<br />
<br />
<i>"Make that three Quantum class ships that are on the way at Royal Caribbean.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The line today announced it had signed a contract with Germany's Meyer Werft shipyard for a third vessel in the much-awaited new series that will begin debuting next year.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"We are encouraged by the very positive response we received from travel agents and consumers when we first announced some of the unprecedented offerings <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5eb351df-b68c-4bd5-9715-97dbb8d99d20" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1e30f1ec-2932-4a49-b9ce-9f4600d7cd68" grcontextid="on:0">on</span> Quantum class last month," Royal Caribbean president and CEO Adam Goldstein says in a statement accompanying the announcement. "The Quantum class will offer vacationers more unexpected activities in the most extraordinary spaces, and a third ship will offer even more opportunities for vacationers to experience Quantum <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="78ace6ff-3d9d-4e15-bb0a-932f51e18d70" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8e32fd63-a5c9-44c4-8cc5-fe1f28a7a461" grcontextid="cruising:0">cruising</span>."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The as-yet-unnamed new ship will join the Royal Caribbean fleet in mid-2016, the line says. The first two vessels in the series, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, are scheduled to debut in fall 2014 and spring 2015, respectively.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>As Royal Caribbean announced in April, the 4,180-passenger ships will have a number of innovative new features including giant mechanical arms that transports passengers high above the vessels in glass capsules.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The new order is subject to financing, the line says."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Source: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2013/05/30/royal-caribbean-quantum-class-order/2371911/" target="_blank">USA Today</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-21465139566180397552013-05-31T13:15:00.001-04:002013-05-31T13:15:46.154-04:00Drop In Fly-And-Flop Hurting Land Of The Flying Fish<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowJaeSfY20Cmn7-R6J9-qgY0W3nhouuq7phE7tAxdOv-CAO0WF3bd1VmPq2_Zvyca18M0G4mLS9AEI6gsC0AC1XJ3qdqhtm9AQmAjIURPTJ4x3IsGpXv0Oh38hByrJxNaNFwrTdTCLwb8/s1600/fly+&+flop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowJaeSfY20Cmn7-R6J9-qgY0W3nhouuq7phE7tAxdOv-CAO0WF3bd1VmPq2_Zvyca18M0G4mLS9AEI6gsC0AC1XJ3qdqhtm9AQmAjIURPTJ4x3IsGpXv0Oh38hByrJxNaNFwrTdTCLwb8/s400/fly+&+flop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mullins Beach - May 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"Britons travelling long haul are beginning to forsake traditional seven-night beach holidays in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6e6f3a5a-fcb7-458b-bb59-363822aeb211" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5093f50e-e38c-4990-b6dd-d321ef682cbf" grcontextid="favour:0">favour</span> of packing different experiences into one trip. That is the conclusion drawn by Hayes and Jarvis in its latest Long Haul Trend Report, which reveals that the destinations making waves in 2013 are ones which lend themselves to a combination of city, beach and culture or heritage tours."<br />
<br />
"Sean Dowd, Hayes and Jarvis Head of Commercial, said “While off-the-peg beach packages are still popular – especially four and five-star All Inclusive ones, there is no doubting the steady decline in demand for traditional fly-and-flop beach holidays. In sharp contrast, our multi-<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5664ed16-b0c5-41eb-becc-cddc90aa57e6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c1278168-bb93-4b92-a9e5-f46a824a7499" grcontextid="centre:0">centre</span> trip bookings have doubled over the past two years because growing numbers of people are keen to see more of what a country – or a region of the world – has to offer when they travel further afield. Multi-<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7abf21da-5513-4a53-a2a4-15d73d30f566" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="95a441fc-cf33-4027-a251-56f92b40bfd1" grcontextid="centre:0">centre</span> trips now account for over a third of our business and this growth trend is one which we expect to accelerate.”"<br />
<br />
"The drop-off in demand experienced by the Maldives has been even more marked in the major Caribbean Islands, continuing a trend first noted by Hayes and Jarvis in its February Trend Report. Barbados (-51%), and Antigua (-58%) have seen the biggest drops but their pain has been Tobago and the Dominican Republic’s gain..."<br />
<br />
Read more: <i><a href="http://www.traveldailynews.com/news/article/54972/holidaymakers-pack-more-experiences-into" target="_blank">Holidaymakers pack more experiences into one trip as single <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_SpellingCorrect" ginger_sofatware_markguid="95332c8e-4c25-4cc7-8ec5-3eb0c2845b04" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f26d6e83-7b32-4ede-abce-fcc255563655" grcontextid="centre:0">centre</span> stays decline in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_SpellingCorrect" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a06991bc-86d9-4ead-a2d4-499e05013567" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f26d6e83-7b32-4ede-abce-fcc255563655" grcontextid="favour:1">favour</span> of multi-centres</a></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-43268472991905719122013-03-26T12:27:00.001-04:002013-03-26T12:27:05.958-04:00Weather could prove deadly for thousands more ..."UK's coldest spring since 1963 claims 5,000 lives: Pensioners worst affected - and experts say final toll could be 'horrendous'2,000 extra deaths registered in just the first two weeks of March And for February, 3,057 extra deaths registered in England and Wales Campaigners warn weather could prove deadly for thousands more..."<br />
<br />
Read more: <a href="http://bbtravel.freeforums.org/weather-could-prove-deadly-for-thousands-more-t5664.html">Barbados TravelAdvisor • View topic - Weather could prove deadly for thousands more ...</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-11622767670290379042013-03-03T18:55:00.000-04:002013-03-03T18:55:25.019-04:00Harlequin House Of Cards Tumbling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/03/02/article-2287140-183A4200000005DC-105_634x236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/03/02/article-2287140-183A4200000005DC-105_634x236.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
"<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em;">A businessman accused of taking £300 million of British investors’ money – and failing to build thousands of luxury properties – could be forced to stop trading this week.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Former bankrupt David Ames is alleged to have collected millions of pounds for ambitious building projects in the Caribbean and Brazil, but less than 300 properties have so far been built.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Legal papers will be lodged at the High Court in Birmingham on Tuesday to freeze the assets of Harlequin Property and its directors in an attempt to claw back money for worried investors.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">It is understood that Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs’ pensions regulator is also poised to act if a judge’s ruling is made on Friday.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">A Mail on Sunday investigation has discovered that Harlequin Property – which has paid tennis star Pat Cash to feature in its promotional material – last month failed to make interest payments to investors who took out loans for deposits.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Now hundreds of financial advisers, who convinced investors to cash in their pensions, have been given just two days by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to confirm if any of their clients have SIPP investments in the Essex-based firm, and a further three days to provide all details.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">SIPPs are a personal pension plan allowing individuals to cash in their pension to invest in schemes such as property abroad." </span></div>
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More...</h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2287140/Tycoon-accused-taking-300m-British-investors-faces-freeze-assets-failing-build-luxury-homes.html#ixzz2MWIYuqTv" style="color: #003399; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2287140/Tycoon-accused-taking-300m-British-investors-faces-freeze-assets-failing-build-luxury-homes.html#ixzz2MWIYuqTv</a><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-47490044638882443682012-12-17T05:56:00.000-04:002012-12-17T05:56:00.309-04:00A Swell Time<div>
<object style="height: 263px; width: 420px;"><param name="movie" value="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v2/IssuuReader.swf?mode=mini&embedBackground=%23000000&backgroundColor=%23222222&documentId=121129170018-712a8dfccc0d4e55bce3ab3c7bad2204" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><embed src="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v2/IssuuReader.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" menu="false" wmode="transparent" style="width:420px;height:263px" flashvars="mode=mini&embedBackground=%23000000&backgroundColor=%23222222&documentId=121129170018-712a8dfccc0d4e55bce3ab3c7bad2204" /></object><br />
<div style="text-align: left; width: 420px;">
<a href="http://issuu.com/spafax/docs/enroute_december_2012?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222" target="_blank">Open publication</a> </div>
</div>
<p>See surfing article on Barbados - p.124-132.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-52579926073152539622012-03-11T05:15:00.000-04:002012-03-11T05:15:09.403-04:00Remembering Japan<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PkkkJuQ-JbGpM_FLaFMs7DCPJA43XQGJk-ZZuaWwBhqygrlKfWBYXEnuk6IA6UXNVpO-9ogMIOS-Asu0-TBwp9z2W77RDEz2wu9Tz0vQoCU1Z4d-6vQG-M-TntzIt5NWqzKMH5uDD_qk/s1600/IMG00035-20120310-1425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PkkkJuQ-JbGpM_FLaFMs7DCPJA43XQGJk-ZZuaWwBhqygrlKfWBYXEnuk6IA6UXNVpO-9ogMIOS-Asu0-TBwp9z2W77RDEz2wu9Tz0vQoCU1Z4d-6vQG-M-TntzIt5NWqzKMH5uDD_qk/s400/IMG00035-20120310-1425.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TBeck breaking yesterday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As we pause to mark the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami which struck the north-eastern coast of Japan, leaving 20,000 dead or missing, here is a prayer that our waves will always be the kind on which our kids love to play.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-66187657454507934292012-01-14T02:21:00.001-04:002012-01-14T02:21:53.373-04:00REDjet On Life Support<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.guyanatimesinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Co-founder-of-REDjet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.guyanatimesinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Co-founder-of-REDjet.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
"Regional low-fares airline REDjet has cancelled more than 50 flights amid reports of financial troubles.<br />
<br />
But the airline says it is on budget and on track to deliver new routes and services.<br />
<br />
REDjet chairman and chief executive Ian Burns, who is currently in Trinidad and Tobago for the opening of two new offices, spoke to the Express yesterday via telephone, saying the current flights in operation put REDjet on budget. "Many of our routes, even though they've only been operational for a short time, are making positive contributions and we've launched service to Antigua, St Lucia and Jamaica," said Burns.<br />
<br />
Concern about the company's financial stability arose when an internal memo from the carrier's customer service manager, Roy Norville, was leaked to regional media, stating that 56 flights would be cancelled "for commercial reasons".<br />
<br />
The affected flights included stops to Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica and Barbados.<br />
But Burns said the reasons for the cancellations were to accommodate three new routes, to be launched later this year, and also to improve flight times for consumers.<br />
"Flights are being cancelled but most are being put to a new flight time. Our market research shows that it was inconvenient for people to make it to the airport during high traffic times, especially in Trinidad and Jamaica," Burns said.<br />
<br />
He added that the changes will take place from March 1 and will have increased capacity, better flight times and frequency.<br />
Concerns were raised last November about the airline needing a cash injection of Bds$8 million.<br />
<br />
Ralph 'Bizzy' Williams, the company's largest Barbados investor, had accused the Barbados government of sabotaging the airline's progress through excessive delays and Bds$8 million which was invested for operating expenses in the initial months of the business had to be used elsewhere.<br />
"Our shareholder was very clear that the (Barbados) government did not keep their commitment to regularising the airline, so why should any REDjet investors invest in the country when the country wasn't holding its end of the bargain. We are satisfied that they will and we continue to roll out our services, but it is imperative that the investment climate that was promised by the government of Barbados is delivered so we can keep investments on course," said Burns."<br />
<br />
Source: <a href="http://www.trinidadexpress.com/business/REDjet_plans__more_routes-137072908.html">Trinidad Express</a><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-19365052116455268302011-11-11T22:13:00.000-04:002011-11-11T22:13:42.954-04:00Where in the world is Matt Lauer?<object width="420" height="245" id="msnbc643e15" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" /><param name="FlashVars" value="launch=45253453&width=420&height=245" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed name="msnbc643e15" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" width="420" height="245" FlashVars="launch=45253453&width=420&height=245" allowscriptaccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 420px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">breaking news</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">world news</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">news about the economy</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Sandy Lane, Holetown, Barbados13.1752893 -59.63194913.1598288 -59.65169 13.190749799999999 -59.612207999999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-81832654361699385662011-11-01T14:35:00.002-04:002011-11-01T14:35:36.519-04:00Barbados Road Safety Awareness Badge<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WtiHX_ZnkB4" width="420"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://j.mp/BRSA20">Click here</a> to get your badge for Facebook or Twitter.<br />
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.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-27749898462995969212011-10-14T11:41:00.000-04:002011-10-14T11:44:31.945-04:00Merricks Finally Matriculates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.vrvm.com/media/render.htm?m=335784885&width=320" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://img.vrvm.com/media/render.htm?m=335784885&width=320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<i>"Harlequin Hotels & Resorts and Harlequin Developments have commenced construction of the initial phase of The Merricks Resort — the $900 million luxury resort in St. Philip that will cover 70.4 acres.
Speaking during his visit to the island this week, Chairman Mr. Dave Ames said: “We are very excited to have started work on this initial phase of The Merricks Resort Show Village, the $10 million precursor to our multi-million dollar resort investment in St. Philip.
“This first stage of the project will provide a great boost to the country’s economy, creating work and employment for many local businesses and hundreds of people in St. Philip and Barbados.”
Construction of The Merricks Resort Show Village was originally planned for completion at the beginning of January 2012, but has now been pushed back because the developers are still awaiting approval from the Government for investment concessions.
Harlequin also recently acquired the former Allamanda Hotel on the South Coast. That property will be re-opened in 2012 as the “H Barbados”, the first in Harlequin’s newly created luxury boutique hotel collection.
The company has moved quickly and has already completed the initial strip out of the existing building. The construction and refurbishment is now ready to commence on what will transform the former 47-room hotel into a 77-room property.
Earlier reports had indicated this was a smaller project but with the benefit of existing planning permission, the Harlequin group is committed to increasing their investment in this project to an estimated $36 million, almost doubling the size of the original property.
Speaking from Harlequin’s office at Hythe House in Maxwell, Christ Church, Garrett Ronan, Vice President of Hotel and Resort Development, stated: “Since receiving final planning permission in May for The Merricks Resort Show Village we have progressed things very quickly.
“However, we are currently waiting for approval of concessions for both The Merricks Resort Show Village and separately under the TDA for our new boutique hotel, H Barbados.
“The Government has worked very closely with us for the past few months and had promised to ensure an efficient approval process. We have provided all requested information to date but, unfortunately, the planned completion dates for both projects have already started to slip due to continued delays with the approvals.”
He added: “This is proving to be very disappointing for our investors and the many local contractors and businesses that are now in a holding pattern awaiting these official approvals. Following a meeting last week with senior Government officials we are hopeful that approvals can be granted this week. This will allow us to continue quickly with construction at both locations.”
The Merricks Resort Show Village will comprise a landscaped formal entrance leading to a two bedroom and a four bedroom Harlequin signature villa, spectacular cliff top boardwalk with public access designed by Kevin Talma of Talma Mills Studio, a showcase gazebo, a lagoon pool and a services building with car parking.
All villas are designed with an expansive outdoor deck providing amazing panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and will feature a private plunge pool and spacious en suite bedrooms centred on an 800 square foot open plan “Caribbean style” living room.
Development Director for Harlequin Developments, David Campion, described the villa designs as “a contemporary interpretation of local Barbados architectural style that takes an environmentally responsible approach in delivering an upscale luxury experience”.
“To achieve this we are using the latest in environmental and construction technology with a strong focus on energy and water conservation,” he added."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Source: http://m.barbadostoday.bb/bbt/db_258712/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=65gpm1E8&storycount=49&detailindex=0&pn=1&ps=10&full=true#displayUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1Palmetto Bay, Barbados13.1444283 -59.421186413.1289658 -59.440927400000007 13.1598908 -59.4014454tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-84545832804613716102011-08-18T20:43:00.000-04:002011-08-18T20:43:20.144-04:00REDjet rising - Globe-trotting - The Boston Globe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.boston.com/travel/blog/assets_c/2011/08/Redjet-thumb-420x278-47580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://www.boston.com/travel/blog/assets_c/2011/08/Redjet-thumb-420x278-47580.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>"First it was $9.99 for a one-way ticket from Barbados to Guyana; then Barbados to Trinidad. Now the Caribbean's first low-cost carrier REDJet is reportedly breaking open a Latin American route that will take St. Lucians or Bajans cheaply and directly to Panama CIty to go shopping.
</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>What might that mean for America? For one, with Panama City's fabled bargains a cheap flight away, Caribbean residents would no longer look to Miami for those weekend shopping sprees. For another, the Caribbean and lower Americas could become viable for the kind of multiple destination jaunts that former inter-island air passes promised but didn't deliver. (For example, a Caribbean Airlines flight from Barbados to Kingston, Jamaica can cost as much as $420.)
</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>The REDjet promise is that "Your final payment amount depends entirely on you." Plan ahead, choose off-peak days, and book at their airport ticket desk, and the airline guarantees a one-way flight will cost $9.99 plus taxes.
</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Will Caribbean islanders finally be freed from over-pricing? Stay tuned.
</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Now, if only I could get to Barbados this Christmas for under $650 ..."</i><br />
<br />
Source: <a href="http://www.boston.com/travel/blog/2011/08/redjet_rising.html">REDjet rising - Globe-trotting - The Boston Globe</a><br />
<br />
.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-77526836230100076042011-07-20T10:07:00.002-04:002011-08-12T20:16:08.788-04:00REDjet to capture Crop Over market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
"Last minute T&amp;T travellers can now catch the last week of Barbados Crop Over Festival, as REDjet the Barbados-based, low cost carrier’s inaugural flight out of T&amp;T is set for July 28. The popular Barbados festival, which began on May 14, will culminate with Barbadian R&amp;B star Rihanna’s LOUD concert on August 5. REDjet will be offering passengers 3,700 seats at $65 one way fares, exclusive of government taxes and optional charges. This was officially announced yesterday by the management team of REDjet at the Carlton Savannah Hotel, St Ann’s. After several months of delay over its certification approval, REDjet was finally given the green light to operate out of T&amp;T on July 17 by the new Transport Minister Devant Maharaj. REDjet had planned to start flying from T&amp;T and Jamaica since May 8..."<br />
<br />
Read more: <a href="http://www2.guardian.co.tt/business/2011/07/20/redjet-capture-crop-over-market">REDjet to capture Crop Over market | The Trinidad Guardian</a><br />
<br />
.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-19145767077980328022011-07-08T10:26:00.001-04:002011-07-08T10:26:20.586-04:00UK Air Passenger Duty Hits Travel From North America and to Caribbean<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Helvetica-Narrow, Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">
"<a href="http://ctt.marketwire.com/?release=774993&id=494785&type=1&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.cheapflights.co.uk%2f" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">Cheapflights Media Ltd</a>, the international media network providing consumers with different ways to find low cost travel since 1996, has been a consistent critic of the UK's regressive Air Passenger Duty (APD) -- now the highest such aviation travel tax in the world.</div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">
Cheapflights has just analysed traffic search patterns for the first six months (H1) of 2009, 2010 and 2011 for searches for Barbados, Jamaica and Mexico and other long-haul destinations. It also analysed its North American traffic searching for London flights for the same periods to indicate how APD may have affected inbound tourism. The figures have to be viewed in the context of the post-recession recovery in global passenger numbers over the period, especially in 2010 when a post-recession "bounce" occurred and passenger traffic increased by an above trend of 8.2% (IATA).</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 325px;"><tbody style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; width: 109px;">H1</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">2010 over 2009</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">2011 over 2009</td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 109px;">Australia</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">15.3%*</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">-4.7%</td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 109px;">Barbados</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">-47.1%</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">-51.3%</td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 109px;">India</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">5.1%*</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">-1.5%</td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 109px;">Jamaica</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">-26.8%</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">-25.0%</td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 109px;">Mauritius</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">-12.9%</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">-0.4%</td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 109px;">Mexico</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">-21.9%</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">-17.5%</td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 109px;">New Zealand</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">7.5%*</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">-2.0%</td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; width: 323px;">Inbound Searches for the UK</td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 109px;">CFUSA to UK</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">4.9%</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">-9.4%</td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 109px;">CFCA to UK</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">4.6%</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; width: 106px;">-34.3%</td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 323px;">* Host nations to major sporting events in H1 2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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The Government has just completed a consultation period in response to representations by Caribbean governments, the Caribbean Tourist Organisation and also by UK aviation and travel companies about the negative effects the high level of taxation is having.</div>
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Introduced in 1994 and raised in 2007 it remained at a sustainable level until November 2009; APD was then changed to a much higher four mileage-band based tax for economy seats and an even higher four-band tax for premium seat passengers including premium economy. It was raised even higher in November 2010, costing a family of four travelling economy to the Caribbean APD of £300.</div>
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Following the 2010 increase, APD had risen a massive 275% above pre-2007 rates for all cabin classes to the Caribbean. Apart from affecting tourism-dependent economies, such as the Caribbean in general, the mileage bands also created unfair anomalies; for example APD is more expensive when flying to Jamaica than to Hawaii.</div>
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John Barrington-Carver, Head of Cheapflights Corporate Communications, commented: "Clearly, with a respective 51.3% and 25% drop in traffic since the higher rate four band APD was brought in, Barbados and Jamaica have good reason to expect the UK Government to remove the current anomalies in APD.</div>
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"A significant concern for the UK economy is the evident drop in searches for the UK from North America and elsewhere over the period. With the strong Australian and Canadian dollars one could have expected an increase in searches for the UK. Instead we have a 5% drop from Australia and a very significant 34% drop seen in Canadian searches for London.</div>
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"Domestically, the UK's airport operators are claiming that, according to Civil Aviation Authority statistics, passenger numbers at Britain's smaller airports have fallen by up to 70% in the past four years.</div>
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"Cheapflights' analysis appears to bear out the reasons why five other European Governments have dropped APD as revenue raising exercises. Having tried the duty they discovered that such taxes cost the economy more than they raised in revenue.</div>
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"High jet fuel prices have clearly increased fares but have not prevented the 2010 post-recession global bounce in air passengers.</div>
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"It's therefore difficult to avoid the conclusion that APD is deterring UK consumers from seeking fares to the Caribbean and other long haul destinations. Importantly for the UK economy the opposite is also evident, especially from North America.""</div>
Source: <a href="http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/uk-air-passenger-duty-hits-travel-from-north-america-and-to-caribbean-1534881.htm">http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/uk-air-passenger-duty-hits-travel-from-north-america-and-to-caribbean-1534881.htm</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Helvetica-Narrow, Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-62588677930068465962011-05-25T20:55:00.000-04:002011-05-25T20:55:41.200-04:00Barbados' East Coast Rocks<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/23981715?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/23981715">Kerrazy Times - Carribean</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/surfingmag">SURFING Magazine</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-58860035847175604552011-05-20T13:36:00.000-04:002011-05-20T13:36:20.195-04:00What Recession? Miami-Dade Tourism Soars<script type='text/javascript' src='http://video.miami.cbslocal.com/global/video/videoplayer.js?rnd=3822;hostDomain=video.miami.cbslocal.com;playerWidth=385;playerHeight=288;isShowIcon=true;clipId=5867472;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=News;advertisingZone=CBS.MIA/worldnowplayer;enableAds=false;landingPage=http%253A%252F%252Fmiami.cbslocal.com%252Flatest-videos;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript'></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-60546392192805282572011-04-13T05:36:00.001-04:002011-07-05T03:21:28.152-04:00Pierhead Project Turns Into Expensive Little Marina<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7vK7xs61T-S-x4FeWO277vV1NHudQBIDBZHc0f3yInFUYHbfwC39dRekbirD0q-ML3pZOWaLYEZJhUb7s0LjMkiQx3bhZN-6RraxXk-0sSZ43KNE22c1cXfjBqYe_SlVAwJj8hIS3trd/s1600/pierhead-marina+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="184" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7vK7xs61T-S-x4FeWO277vV1NHudQBIDBZHc0f3yInFUYHbfwC39dRekbirD0q-ML3pZOWaLYEZJhUb7s0LjMkiQx3bhZN-6RraxXk-0sSZ43KNE22c1cXfjBqYe_SlVAwJj8hIS3trd/s320/pierhead-marina+3.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>"Construction of marina in bridgetown to begin in about nine months</blockquote><blockquote><b>Years of delay and controversy are about to culminate with the construction of an upscale $202 million marina in Bridgetown, work on which is expected to start early next year. But by the time Barbados has finished paying for the super yacht facility in 25 years, the tax payers would have spent $505 million in a Build Operate Lease and Transfer deal with a St. Lucia company.</b></blockquote><blockquote>However, Minister of Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler asserted today that the benefits would be significant, including $132 million from the reclamation of lands and sale of 80 berths alone. Sinckler announced plans for the project, to be located in the area of the Pierhead/Bay Street/Carlisle Bay section of the City, via a ministerial statement delivered in the House of Assembly this morning on the resumption of sittings. He said following completion of a tendering process, Government agency the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. had signed a memorandum of understanding with St. Lucia's SMI Infrastructure Solutions Inc. for the venture to take place.</blockquote><blockquote>"The project, which has been under consideration for several administrations, and for many years, will see the construction of a super yacht marina consisting of approximately 80 berths...," he said. "The memorandum of understanding was signed with SMI Infrastructure Solutions Inc. for a Build, Own, Lease and Transfer financing arrangement. "With the marina expected to cost $202 million, Sinckler said <b>Government would have to make annual payments of $20.2 million at an interest rate of 8.8 per cent</b> and that "lease payments will reduce overtime in accordance with the quantum and timing of cost recovery".</blockquote><blockquote><b>Barbados' overall payments between next year and 2037 will be $505 million, including interest of $303 million</b>, but the St. Michael North West MP suggested the benefits would outweigh the costs.</blockquote><blockquote>"Cost recovery is estimated at US $66 million for the reclamation of lands and the sale of berths. This transformational tourism infrastructural project will assist in repositioning the Barbados tourism product offering, while being the catalyst for the regeneration of the Bridgetown area," he said. "The tourism product offering will also move towards the upper end of the tourism market by attracting more high net worth individuals, who can be expected to own berths at the super yacht marina. They will also purchase condominiums on the 10 acres of prime real estate that will be created through the reclaimed lands, which are the by-product of the building of the marina." Additionally, the minister said development of the marina "will result in enhancement of the beach in the immediate vicinity of Carlisle Bay, which will be targeted by the coastal tourism master plan for future development".</blockquote><blockquote>"Other economic benefits include the injection of foreign exchange into Barbados, the creation of hundreds of jobs during the construction and permanent jobs after construction, repositioning of Barbados' tourism product and the marina acting as a catalyst for major new investment along the Bay Street corridor," he noted.<br />
"Construction is expected to commence in about nine months and prior to the commencement of construction stakeholder meetings will be held."</blockquote><blockquote>Construction of a marina in Bridgetown has been in the offing for well over a decade, with a previous administration originally seeking to partner with local conglomerate Barbados Shipping & Trading, a major landowner in the area. In recent times the current administration's handling of the venture has been criticised repeatedly by Opposition Leader Owen Arthur, who claimed the projected cost had risen to more than $626 million and it was facing legal difficulties."</blockquote><br />
Source: <a href="http://news.barbadostoday.bb/barticlenew.php?ptitle=MARINA%20AT%20LAST&article=4485">Barbados Today</a><br />
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.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2Pier Head Ln, Bridgetown, Barbados13.0955402 -59.61502970000003613.095297200000001 -59.61585870000004 13.0957832 -59.614200700000033tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607702592991981471.post-22884556318533569442011-04-08T11:37:00.000-04:002011-04-08T11:37:52.597-04:00Whale Watching Off Barbados<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="430" height="272" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uxYRexTHhNA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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