Barbados is still open for business and there is no caution about travelling to this destination, declares chief executive officer of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association Ryan Forde.
He was reacting to the fake news that was circulating across social media from early yesterday, suggesting that the United States Embassy had issued a Level 4 security alert travel advisory, recommending its citizens not to travel to Barbados due to the crime situation.
Impact
While he condemned the false news, Forde said he did not believe it would have an immediate impact on the tourism sector.
“I don’t think that it would have an instant impact because a notice was sent out shortly after by the US Embassy . . . here in Barbados. So if persons, as much as they spread negativity, people should spread positivity, which is that we are still on the green list.
“So I would hope that persons would go ahead and spread it very quickly and as loud about the fact that we are still open for business and there’s no caution,” he told the Saturday Sun last night.
The fake social media post stated that “The US Department of State has raised its travel advisory to Level 4: Do Not Travel.
“This advisory is issued in response to a significant deterioration in the security environment on the island, including reports of ongoing increased violent crime, disruptions to critical services and limited availability of medical care.
United States citizens in Barbados should exercise caution and consider departing the country”.
Denied claims
Shortly after this message went viral, the US Embassy denied these claims, stating: “Official updates on embassy and consular matters are
communicated through platforms like the Smart Traveller Enrolment Program (STEP), a free service for US citizens to register their trips abroad for emergency contact.”
It assured that the travel advisory for Barbados remains at Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions as stated at travel.state.gov. Forde warned that the more fake news spreads, it becomes more difficult to pull back.
“That is the challenge, that’s why we ask people not to do things like that,” he said.
The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, (BTMI) also responded, commending the US Embassy in Barbados for promptly addressing and correcting the misinformation that was circulated.
Peace of mind
The BTMI said it “deeply appreciates the embassy’s swift clarification, which supports our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety, comfort and peace of mind of all travellers to Barbados. At BTMI, the safety and trust of our visitors remain our top priority. We urge travellers and the public to always verify information through official embassy channels before sharing or acting on reports seen online”.
In its statement, the BTMI strongly encouraged all travellers to rely only on trusted Government sources when seeking updates about their destinations, stating unverified information could lead to unnecessary concern and confusion. “Barbados remains open, welcoming and committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors. We look forward to welcoming you to Barbados,” the release stated. (SG)
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