[Fwd: CARIBBEAN/BARBADOS: Tourism Takes to Highlands]

Jayne Musumba wrote:
>
> Tourism takes to Highlands - Monday-20-August-2001
>
> Concepts of eco and adventure tourism are widening in Barbados,
> and Highland Adventure Centre intends to be on top.
>
> After taking over the company just over six months ago, managing
> director Neil Skeete said it was a niche market which needed to
> be filled, since the days of selling sun and sea were over.
>
> By extension, then the days of horse back riding, biking and
> nature trails are in.
>
> Skeete said the facility at Highland, St. Thomas, was leased from
> former operator, C.O Williams, and after being dormant for about
> seven months, they invested $200 000 to get the business up and
> running.
>
> He said most of this money was used for infrastructural
> improvement, such as the stables and bar. Funds were also spent
> on the improvement of the hiking trails and buying mountain
> bikes. He said no one else on the island offers horseback riding
> on the same scale which they do, and therefore safety and
> enjoyment were paramount to their operation.
>
> He added that insurance was a major issue, as the major hotels
> and cruise ships would not recommend the tour, unless the company
> had full insurance.
>
> "We are insured for public liability for up to US$5 million
> off-island and US$1 million on-island."
>
> Maintenance cost was also cited as being high, moreso for the
> horses than the bicycles; without giving a figure for maintaining
> the animals, he said they were like children, needing constant
> attention.
>
> Skeete did not say how much they have made so far but he did say
> business was turning over after a considerable amount of
> marketing. Highland Adventure Centre spent about BDS$20 000 in
> advertising in the newspapers, hotels, cruise ships and on the
> Internet.
>
> He added that business from the cruise ships was shaping up to be
> a "phenomenal success" and the hotels were very supportive, from
> the guesthouses to the major hotels. International tour operators
> such as Virgin Holidays, Thompson Tours have placed Highland
> advertisements in their magazines.
>
> Local taxi drivers have also brought lots of business for the
> hiking, riding and horseback riding tours.
>
> However, locals are not forgotten, there are special rates
> offered to Barbadians.
>
> As for the business outlook, the managing director said summer
> was slow but the business was new and it was a learning curve for
> them, but yet they had a 14 per cent increase over June to July.
> He said the coming winter season would be the test and the
> company was hoping that from October 2001 to April, they will run
> fully.
>
> The next adventure this company plans to introduce is rock wall
> climbing. Skeete said they have already placed the order for the
> 11 metres, four-sided wall, which gives four degrees of
> difficulty.
>
> He said they were hoping this could get started by summer of
> 2002.
>
> They also want to use the centre's bar as a drink stop for island
> tours, and rent bicycles to hotels.
>
> A joint venture with a sea adventure company is also on the
> cards.
>
> SOURCE: Barbados Nation
>
> To post a submission please email tourism-newswire@sidsnet.org
Received on Wed Aug 22 08:55:19 2001