3,000 Tourists Cancel Due To Storm Confusion
Following erroneous reports and confusion that Bermuda was affected by the hurricanes this year, more than 3,000 tourists canceled their plans to visit, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The story said “Bermuda escaped the 2017 hurricane season untouched. It was people’s hazy grasp of Caribbean geography that hurt it.
“In September, while Hurricane Irma devastated Barbuda and hurricane Jose gave it a glancing blow, Bermuda’s famous pink sand beaches were drenched in sun under a gentle breeze.
“No matter that the two islands are about 1,000 miles apart and that Bermuda isn’t even located in the Caribbean — news reports by several major news organizations confused the two.
“More than 3,000 tourists canceled their plans to visit and Bermuda officials woke up to text messages from friends saying “I hope you’re OK!”
“Collectively, Bermuda was like ‘What?”’ said Kevin Dallas, CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, in a telephone interview. “It’s a helpful reminder to us of the importance of our strategy that while Bermuda is influenced by the Caribbean, it’s set apart.”
“Bermuda tried to get the word out that it was open for business through promotions and marketing channels, but erroneous reports of the island’s destruction had already spread on Twitter and Facebook.
“The social media genie was out of the bag,” Dallas said.
So much for the BTA. What are they really spending the millions on?
Yes we need to tell the world that we are not in de caribbean.
And this guy gets paid $1000 a day.
WTF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well when all one does is boast abt how “carribbean” we are, what do you expect? Blame yourself.
But a certain group has been going around for the last 20 years claiming we ARE in the Carribean.
This has got to be the biggest cop put or we had 3000 dumb cant read tourist !
cop out !
Totally! Great excuse by BTA. No scientific EVIDENCE for their stance on the issue.
Sounds like the BTA should do a campaign that includes a MAP and STATS that can EDUCATE potential visitors on where we are and the low risks hurricanes pose to us when compared to the Caribbean and southeastern US. C’mon, BTA. What do we pay you for?
Any excuse. Shameful.
Don’t be dim. A lot of North Americans think we are in the Caribbean. (As do a lot of Bermudians).
Ok well if these are American tourists I can understand them not being able to see the obvious. They are the same confused bunch that voted Mr Trump to lead them.
A bit like the Bermudians worried about catching Ebola when visiting Kenya because there was an outbreak in Liberia.
Your opinion, nothing more or less.
It is so easy to see and hear the difference in spelling and saying; Bermuda and Barbuda. I never gave it a thought that BURMUDA was hit with that disasterous storm!! Look at your map folks. BERMUDA is NOT in the Caribbean!
Nah. They heard the trump/plp was in charge and said f that. Not my government!
It is a lost cause. You cannot lead a horse to water! Doesn’t matter how much marketing we do! People think I live in the Bahamas all the time!!!