Shadow Tourism Minister sees an upside to the Trump backlash
Would-be travellers to the U.S. who have been scared off by Donald Trump’s policies should be lured here to Bermuda instead, it has been suggested.
Shadow Tourism Minister Dwayne Robinson says we should use the upheaval surrounding Trump’s actions to our advantage.
The BBC in the U.K. reported last month that President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in the U.S., with the recent detention of Canadian and European tourists, has led to some calling for a boycott.
Now with President Trump’s new tariffs on imports into the U.S., there are concerns that prices may go up for travellers to the U.S.
The United States Tour Operators Association released some predictions about the the new tariffs, citing a near-term impact on potential tourists’ opinion about traveling to the United States.
In the long term, there are concerns that the tariffs could bump costs for hotels, airlines and cruise ships – even imported beverages for restaurants and event venues.
All these costs could be passed on to travellers to the U.S..
Dwayne Robinson, the OBA’s Shadow Tourism Minister, said in a statement today that “anti-American travel sentiment continues to grow as President Trump engages in trade conflicts with his country’s closest allies.”
“This can be an opportunity for Bermuda to re-introduce us to travelers on both sides of these global trade conflicts as a destination of choice.”
Mr. Robinson suggests Bermuda focuses on “disenfranchised Canadian, European, and African travelers who are not looking to enter the U.S.A. at this time”, and aggressively markets to Latin American travellers.
“We can also provide a quick trip for Americans who may want to keep their travels close to home”, he says.
“By tapping into these regions, we can create new visitor pipelines that diversify our tourism base and provide sustained economic growth.”
“This travel sentiment will most likely endure throughout the current President’s term, giving us some time to invest in a long-term facelift of our tourism product.”
Mr. Robinson said we can build on the higher visitor numbers and spending that the BTA reported for 2024, but highlighted a need to invest in world-class customer service training, and more events that bring global attention to Bermuda.
He also suggests the re-opening of the Fairmont Southampton is not eneough to ensure the industry’s growth…
“Expanding our tourism product means more than hotels—it means culinary tourism, adventure tourism, wellness retreats, and sustainable eco-tourism that will attract a new generation of travelers.”
Dwayne Robinson also called for more stakeholder representation in the Bermuda Tourism Authority – including voices from taxi drivers, tour guides, performing artists alongside hotels and restaurants.
Finally, Mr. Robinson says there is no unifying method to minimise service gaps in the tourism and transport industries, with Bermuda Governments being reactive rather than proactive…
“If we invest strategically, we can create a tourism ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship, fosters innovation, and provides career pathways for Bermudians beyond seasonal jobs.”
“Tourism is worth so much more than one sentence in a throne speech—it could provide a safety net for what is to come.”
