The government of the United Kingdom (UK) is warning British tourists to be extra careful in Barbados due to an increase in violent crime here.
On Wednesday, the government updated its safety and security advisory to those with plans to visit Barbados In a quick response yesterday, Minister of Tourism Ian Gooding-Edghill, who returned from the UK just last week, told the Sunday Sun recent meetings with British stakeholders did not indicate local crime problems were a major issue for the country’s tourism clients heading here for their summer and winter breaks.
The UK, through its official governmental website, warned its citizens there was an increase in gun-related crimes, violent robberies, sexual assaults and even car-jacking in Barbados in recent months. The Brits are being cautioned to pay special attention to their personal safety and security while in Barbados.
“There has been an increase in gang-related murders involving guns. Some incidents have taken place in populated and public areas. Take sensible precautions to protect your personal safety,” the UK government warned in the updated advisory.
In response to the move, Gooding-Edghill made it clear that Barbados continues to work hard in protecting its tourism product.
“During the 11 meetings which were held over the four days, the Barbados delegation participated in a thorough analysis of the state of the Barbados brand in the eyes of those markets. It was a frank and factual discussion that closely examined the various positive and negative factors that brand Barbados offers as an international attraction for discerning visitors,” Gooding-Edghill said.
He said such a position, however, did not reflect any sense of complacency on Barbados’ part, and they remained fully engaged with local partners wherever possible, seeking to drive down any threats of crime against Barbadians and visitors.
“The public should further note that the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) employs a number of full-time professionals in these markets who are in daily contact with the travel trade and who report to us in Barbados on their findings. Furthermore, we are encouraged that up to this time, there are no indications of any decline in the booking forecast including the all-important coming winter season. In addition, summer arrivals from the UK to Barbados are very much in line with our forecast for this time of the year,” the minister added.
Gooding-Edghill noted that during those evaluation meetings in the UK, there was never any mention by the travel trade of any negativity regarding crime against their clients as an issue.
“And while, the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport and the BTMI very strongly support the national drive to reduce crime in Barbados, we at this time, based on the face-to-face feedback from our partners in the UK and European markets, do not think that we presently have a major issue on our hands in relation to visitors,” the minister stressed.
He added that based on reports, crime against visitors in Barbados had gone down.
“This situation has been reinforced by the overwhelmingly positive comments I get from my interaction with visitors who stress the high level of comfort and safety they still feel when in Barbados,” he concluded Between January and December 2024, Barbados attracted 239 045 stay-over visitors from the UK. For the same period in 2023, the number of stay-overs from that destination was 243 857.
When contacted in London yesterday, Deputy High Commissioner to the UK Mackie Holder, said he was not aware of the official advisory update. However, he said in his opinion, “Barbados is still a safe place.” (BA)
