The post 9/11 tourism industry has learned one thing over the past year: whatever marketing efforts seemed adequate just yesterday no longer meet the standard. As a favorite Caribbean up-market travel destination, St. Barths still enjoys some immunity. Nevertheless, market-conscious hotel managers, owners, and restaurateurs here have recognized that resting on laurels is suicidal. The game has changed, and so must the promotional strategy that protects St. Barth's key economic interests in an international travel market. In a word, increase visibility, stay ahead of the competition and play to the house. A group of approximately 30 tourism professionals went to Manhattan during the second week of October to promote the island to Stateside journalists and travel agents in a series of promotional events intended to keep St. Barths high in the American travel industry's Caribbean pecking order. To the great credit of the municipality and the hotel association, the astute marketing gesture was well planned, well executed and well received. Whether or not the results are as promising as hoped, there is no question that in an iffy economy, the proactive measures can only help.
Aside from the tourism buzz, local news for the past fortnight has been firmly fixed on island-imposed taxes. The first involves a garbage collection tax (for homeowners, the yearly amount is approximately 75 euros per year) which was instituted in 1995. The tax, owed by local householders and businesses, is used to finance and operate waste treatment. Though the large majority of residents give little to write about, there is a costly minority (20%) that has shirked its civic duty since the tax was initiated. For the years of 1999 and 2000, unpaid garbage taxes amounted to 170,000 euros and 95,200 euros respectively. Recently, local government, tired of chasing after its due, hit zero-tolerance and decided to take a more decisive stance.
Michel Geoffrin, the deputy mayor in charge of environmental issues, when asked about the municipality's recent decision to call in the public treasurer said that double standards-those that pay and those that don't- would no longer be tolerated. Hundreds of letters went out to late payers informing them that they would be accorded an eight-day grace period for settling their accounts. After that, the letter warned, their bank accounts would be frozen until payment was made in full.
Municipal leaders have shown the same determination in their most recent attempts to collect fuel taxes from one of the island's largest corporate consumers, EDF. The publicly-held electricity company owes cumulative back-taxes of over 1 million euros dating from August 2001 , a sum that local government is demanding it pay immediately.
The fuel tax was created as part of the St Barths specific statutes ratified in the French overseas department's revised orientation law. In essence, the laws give local government greater autonomy in managing certain island affairs once governed by regional and departmental administrators.
While on the subject of St. Barth's statutory evolution, the mayor announced that a local referendum is being planned for the fall of 2003, enabling voters to say where they stand when it comes to detaching St. Barths out from under Guadeloupe's administrative wings.
Yves Bourel
Beyonce and Jay-Z have taken their daughter on her first vacation. The couple, who celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary last week, have been enjoying the sunshine on the Caribbean island of St. Barts with three-month-old Blue Ivy over the weekend, and took the tot for a day trip on a yacht.
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Kick-off Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2012 Caribbean regatta in the magical French West Indies sailing paradise!
Today the prestigious and top-class Caribbean sailing regatta Les Voiles de St. Barth 2012 with Gaastra Sportswear as the official partner starts: At the third edition run...
Inside the Bucket.
This video features the 2012 St Barths Bucket Regatta and music by the Evan Goodrow Band. Special thanks to the entire crew of the Rebecca, Baz Bar, St Barths Online and the guys from the Evan Goodrow Band for putting on a fantastic show. The song from the Evan Goodrow Band is c...
On board with Rebecca.
The best event in St Barths took place on March 24 - 27, 2012. This video features the beautiful 141 ft sailing yacht, The Rebecca.
produced by Real Media Travel for St. Barths Online and Baz Bar St Barth.
The age old saying of "I need a holiday to get over my holiday" actually seems applicable if you happen to be Paul McCartney.
The Beatle took wife Nancy Shevell on a romantic break to the Caribbean island of St Barts, just days after the pair visited Paris.
Last week, the lovebirds showed support ...
On the day their pregnancy news was announced, Thor star Chris Hemsworth, 28, and Elsa Pataky, 35, were seen in sunny St. Barts, France on Wednesday (January 18). The Fast Five actress looked lovely in blue, sporting her beautiful baby bump.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Chris and Elsa - w...
She might be 44, but Tamara Mellon still boasts a figure that women half her age would be proud of.
The Jimmy Choo co-founder showed off her toned figure in a sexy animal-print bikini as she hit the beach with her daughter in St Barts yesterday.
The skimpy string two-piece highlighted Tamara's env...
With almost every other celebrity couple enjoying the New Year in exotic locations, Gary and Danielle Lineker weren't going to be any different.
The married couple were spotted enjoying a romantic walk along a beach in St Barts today - and looked very much in love.
Gary, 51 and his wife, 32, had o...
Which beaches to choose?
The glamorous island of St Barts is one of the Caribbean's top beach destinations. Ringing the island are immaculate strips of sand and ethereal turquoise waters. The shallow reefs that encircle the island help to protect these renowned beaches, and they also provide excell...
St. Barts, Why Not?
Since the wealthy and celebrated frequently visit St. Barts for a tropical vacation, you will find that many plush St. Barts Resorts can be found on this stunning island. For those taking St. Barts holidays, it is simple to find hotels with each luxury available. Frequently thes...
Vacation With the Rich and Famous at St. Barts.
Want to bump into celebrities and be seen hanging out where the rich and famous play? Then the Caribbean island of St. Barts is the place to be.
While warm sand and blue waters do make an ideal vacation location, this destination has that and a whol...
Where to go for one day in Caribbean?
St. Maarten / St. Martin
The half-Dutch, half-French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, with its many restaurants and hotels, makes a great base for an island-hopping adventure. Graced by the nickname Unspoiled Queen, tiny little Saba is not the kind of Caribbe...
Villa La Plage in St Barts.
The posh French resort isle of St. Barth's was already a prize destination when Roman Abramovich purchased an estate there for $89 million in 2009; since the oligarch arrived it has become even more so.
Now Christie's International Real Estate has listed another impres...
Baywatch in St Barts.
Making it official after five years of engagement, Brooke Burke and beau David Charvet have reportedly tied the knot while yachting in St. Barts.
According to Life & Style, the "Dancing with the Stars" host and the former "Baywatch" hunk, who have been vacationing in the...
St. Barth Summer Sessions Aug. 5-15, 2011
St Barth Summer Sessions 2011 this year will have a focus on artists from Brazil. The festival will take place at a variety of different venues all over the island, and in the end of the festival there will be a big common concert in the Harbor of Gustavia ...
The Eclipse, no ordinary yacht.
It probably hasn't escaped your attention that, with modern methods of transport, measuring and telecommunication, no "terra incognita" is safe from the crazed enthusiasm of certain explorers of scientists. Everything has already been discovered and minutely placed o...
Ashley Rodriguez Trio
Ashley Rodriguez, one of the famous finalist from the American Idol 2010 is back in St Barth between May 5-15. Ashley was participating last summer for the St Barth Summer Session in august 2010 at La Plage and she will now come with her 'All Girls Band', Liz on the guitar ...
The La Plage restaurant introduce :
ST BARTH SUMMER SESSIONS
« 5 to 15 august 2010, 10 days of crazy music ! »
Festival program
La Plage St Jean Tel: 0590 52 81 33 Email: tombeach@wanadoo.fr Site: www.stbarthsummersessions.com
THE GREAT FISH DEBATE There seems to be a bone of contention among a few of my friends. Fine folks who love some of the finer things in life, such as Dover Sole That flat fish floating in butter and capers. Known in French as Sole Meunière, it is made from what is called in European fisherman ver...
