- Crime surge a threat to tourism, business leaders warn
Barbados business leaders have expressed concern over a rise in violent crime, which they believe threatens the island’s tourism business and global reputation. The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) and Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) have called for immediate action to curb rising crime, which they claim will gut the economy.
BHTA chairman Javon Griffith expressed significant concern over the recent rise in violent occurrences, especially in the past three weeks. He hoped it would end soon and warned that important source markets may issue travel cautions, delaying Crop Over.
Griffith stressed the importance of safety to Barbados’ tourism brand, as once people feel unsafe in a destination, the tourism business is at risk. If Barbados is seen as hazardous, tourism would drop, hurting hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and local artists. The economy benefits from tourism dollars, which sustain not only direct workers but also countless additional businesses and services. Tourism losses affect the entire nation.
The tourism head called for a comprehensive strategy that includes enhancing security measures, improving community engagement, and addressing the root causes of crime. He emphasized the need to retain Barbados’ favourable image abroad and advised government-private sector crime prevention. He advised collaboration to find effective solutions, such as enhanced law enforcement resources, community engagement programs, or international cooperation to combat gun trafficking and other crimes.
Anthony Ali, BPSA independent director, managing director, and CEO of Goddard Enterprises Ltd., warned of long-term reputation damage to Barbados. He used a Saint Lucia crime wave as an example, stating that the implications of that usually lag much longer than the actual occurrence. He stressed the necessity for crisis coordination and advocated for a unified approach from agencies, NGOs, government, social partnership, and commercial sector.
