FOLLOWING complaints from at least one prominent hotelier about harassment of visitors, Barbadian authorities appear set to increase police patrols on selected beaches. Speaking at an employee appreciation function at a south coast hotel, the Bougainvillea, Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy said his Ministry would be looking into the matter.

The minister’s response came after the Bougainvillea owner Richard Seale reported in the local Daily Nation newspaper as “itinerant vendors” were harassing the tourists on the beaches and selling more than what they were supposed to sell. The vendors also became rude and aggressive when visitors refused to purchase anything, he said. A Bougainvillea manager said the front desk was getting ten complaints a week.

A visit to any major beach on the island’s south or est. coasts, where the majority of hotels and guest houses are located, will find several vendors walking up and down among those sunbathing and wishing to enjoy their holiday, with attaché cases brimming with costume jewelry and, maybe, other items.

Seale, a former President of the Barbados Hotel Association, also said when several cruise liners call at the Bridgetown port on one day, thousands of passenger’s crowd onto some of the beaches, brought there by tour operators. This places a strain on both stay over (those at the hotels) tourists and also locals who wish to use the beaches as well…

In the past, hotel sector interests in the island have also critcised the over zealous approach of jet ski (small motorised water craft) operators who play the crowds offering rides for rental. Sometimes, they weave their speedy craft among the bathers at high speed while the noise and gasoline exhausts were also a problem. Sealy said operations of jet skis and “related beach activities” need to be looked into.

Barbados’ main economic sector is tourism with close to a million visitors annually.