Expect less tourists from UK

EXPECT lower visitor arrivals from the United Kingdom later this year.
Noting that the UK is currently grappling with a high inflation rate, which is driving up the cost of goods and services, Assistant Professor in Accounting at Durham University Dr. Terry Harris said with less disposable income, it is very unlikely that its citizens will be looking to travel as they usually did during the winter season.
“The Bank of England is forecasting that come the autumn and come October in particular, there’ll be double digit inflation. So we are expecting 11 percent inflation coming in autumn, which is of course nearing the onset of our winter tourist season, and this has negative implications for tourist arrivals in Barbados because the UK as you’re all well aware, is the major source of market for a country like Barbados.
“Furthermore since April this year, average gas and electricity prices in the UK have gone up by 53.5 percent and 95.5 percent respectively. Unlike Barbados, in the UK gas is quite impor- tant because not only do we use gas for cooking, we use gas to heat our homes, so in the winter in particular, in the colder months, we need to heat our homes and gas is a fundamental expense,” he explained, adding that Brexit and the Ukraine/Russia conflict have also caused supply issues.
In May this year, Minister of Tourism Senator Lisa Cummins
indicated that the 2022/2023 summer and winter seasons were looking promising with forward bookings at that time being on the increase as persons desired to travel following the two years of Covid-19 lock- downs.
However, Harris told those gathered for the Astor B. Watts lunchtime lecture on Friday afternoon that the expectations for high UK arrivals may not be met.
“I know we’re forecasting to have a bumper season but that may not materialize. UK is a major source market for Barbados, and if they don’t have a lot of disposable income, they’re not going to come. So this is something we need to pay at- tention to come autumn and winter,” he added.