Travel on the net:

Travel is 24% of Internet commerce. It is the number two commerce on the Internet, second only to Computers where companies like DELL have sales of $ 6 million US per day. Travel is expected to become the number one Internet commerce by 2000.

For the next several weeks we will be sending you excerpts from a marketing report we have prepared for BTA. More and more, Internet marketing will be integrated with other Barbados market initiatives, conveying a consistent and compelling brand Image and providing new avenues for action. Internet information systems will also become critical in managing and monitoring the tourism service, from reservations to customer surveys, analysis and corporate communications.

We are sensitive to our responsibility of being the custodians of Barbados.org, as the primary marketing site for Barbados Tourism on the Internet. Barbados.org marketing mission reflects this, it is a product of input from our clients, partners and all stakeholders. In radially changing times this mission must evolve and adapt. We invite your comments and suggestions to keep us on track.

Barbados.org marketing mission:
 

• Be the most visible Barbados site: Barbados.org must be totally accessible to those who are looking for Barbados Information on the Internet.
• Promote Barbados on the net. With assistance from the BTA we will promote Barbados as an exciting destination of high value to targeted Internet communities
• Work with BTA partners to create integrated advertising and marketing programs
• Work with our clients to provide exceptional services and new marketing opportunities
• Work with Travel Agents to empower a massive sales force
• Work with visitor especially repeat visitors who are important ambassadors for Barbados
• Provide a personal touche. We will maintain an exceptionally high level of personal service and response. Emails will be answered personally and immediately. We will involve visitors in on line dialogue in the future (more on this later)
• Provide exceptional content and a rewarding experience. We must continue to expand the content of the site so that visitors will have access to a complete encyclopedia of information as they need it. We must tailor information to specific users and ensure that the Barbados.org Internet experience is useful, relevant, visually exciting and easy to use.
• Transfer Technology and know how. We all do best if we all know more. We have learned from our partners and others and will continue to share our knowledge, vision and experience for the benefit of Barbados.org and its partners, clients and stakeholders.

We hope that sharing our strategies and marketing observations will help us to use the technology with vision and success. Here is what you can expect:
 

• Volume 1 will be email in the next few days, it reviews the Internet travel market and provides a comparison of how Barbados is doing relative to industry standards.
• In Volume 2 we look at the options for Internet advertising, how search engines, portals and banners work.
• Volume 3 examines the Internet as Media, comparing it to the traditional options with the objective of understanding how to make the best use of its differences and unique features.

Finally we look at the future, the technology trends and their effect on all market channels. We consider what Barbados must do to continue to be a leader in the technology and the market.

These are exciting times. A common understanding is essential for our success. We will look forward to your comments and suggestions along the way.