CONTENTS: INTRODUCTION, WHAT IS A HOTSPOT?, JOLLY HARBOUR, ANTIGUA - ST. JAMES, BARBADOS - GOLDEN SANDS, BULGARIA - DUBROVNIK, CROATIA - DUBAI, UAE - EL GOUNA, EGYPT - FORTALEZA, BRAZIL - ACCRA, GHANA - GOZO, MALTA - BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - KINSALE, COUNTY DONEGAL, IRELAND - LIMASSOL, CYPRUS - CANCUN, MEXICO - NATAL MIDLANDS, SOUTH AFRICA - NAXOS ISLAND, GREECE - MOUNT MAUNGANUI, LEIGH, NEW ZEALAND - NIMES, FRANCE - ORLANDO, FLORIDA - PANAMA CITY, COSTA BLANCA, PANAMA - KRAKOW, POLAND - LAGOS, REDONDO, PORTUGAL - MURCIA, SPAIN - UNAWATUNA, GALLE, SRI LANKA - PHUKET, PATTAYA, THAILAND - FETHIYE, TURKEY - ISOLA D’ELBA, TUSCANY - QUEENSLAND, ADELAIDE
| ST. JAMES, TURTLE BEACH, BARBADOS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CO U N T R Y
D A T A
| Population | 0.275 million persons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PopulationGrowth | 0.460% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Land Area | 430 sq km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Currency & exchange rate | 1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents(~ 0.279 GBP) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GDP-PPPMethod | 2,818.0 millions of US dollars | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GDP Growth | -2.550% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GDP Per Head | 10,235.0 Thousands of US Dollars Per Person | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial | Interest Rate | Inflation Rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7.5% | 1.50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National Bank | Central Bank of Barbados | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political | The British monarch is Head of State and is represented in Barbados by a Governor General who is advised by the Cabinet and appoints the Prime Minister. The legislature comprises the Governor General, a 21-member Senate and the 28-strong House of Assembly, members of which are elected by universal adult suffrage for terms of up to five yearsThe Barbados economy has long been used to political and social stability. It is an independent state within the commonwealth.The three political parties are all moderate and have very little difference between them. At the moment, the legal system is based on the common law with the final appeal resting with the UK Privy Council. However, this is set to be replaced by the Caribbean Court of Justice when it becomes operational. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Social Security | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Languages | English | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Customaries | Social attitudes, like administration and architecture, tend to echo the British provincial market town. However, the optimistic attitude, laid-back manner and wonderful sense of humour of the Bajans are well appreciated by many tourists. Casual wear is acceptable in most places. Dressing for dinner in hotels and restaurants is suggested. Smoking is generally unrestricted.There are numerous festivals and sporting occasions throughout the year. To get more information, contact the Barbados Tourism Authority. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ethnic Make-up |
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| Tax | Income Tax | Capital Gains Tax | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-residents are taxed the same as residents except on dividends payments and management payments. Please speak to Barbados government services for more up to date information. | Capital gains are not subject to tax and capital losses are not deductible. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | The Barbados economy traditionally relied on sugar production, yet persistent low market prices forced the government to diversify its economic approach. Most of the effort has been focused on tourism, which is the largest employer on the island. However, after some steady growth over the last decade, there has been some contraction of the economy, mainly due to a slump in tourist arrivals post September 2001, a slump in the construction industry and agriculture.The government has launched a series of initiatives with view to attracting a boost in the tourism sector. Other major industries are offshore financial services, light manufacturing and component assembly with the major trading partners being the UK, the US, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Japan, Jamaica and Canada. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LO C A L
D A T A
| Investor Profile: | Holiday InvestorRetirement Investor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Category: | Bronze | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Population: | Total | British | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13,000 | 200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Climate: | Hours of Sunshine Per Day in Summer | Days of Rain Per Year | January | July | AverageWater Temp. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 hours | 30 | 26C/79F | 30C/86F | 23C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proximity to: | Airport | Beach | Nearest City | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 miles from the Grantley Adams International airport | Amazing beaches everywhere on the island. | Bridgetown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restaurants and bars: | Finding a place to have a good meal is never a problem in Its all here...from fine-dining restaurants specializing in award winning cuisine to the very casual “no frills joints” serving good food. Barbados is home some of the worlds top 50 restaurants.Turtle beach is also a few minutes drive away from St Lawrence Gap with its bustling nightlife and very close to the cosmopolitan town of Bridgetown, which has a diverse array of bars and nightlife. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports and leisure facilities: | Tennis, Golf, Sailing, snorkelling, aquacycling, kayaking, banana boats, snorkelling, sailing, water-skiing, reef fishing and windsurfing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transport: | Public Transport | Roads | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public buses run regularly to most places on the island. Taxis are plentiful but not particularly cheap. They are also not metered, so make sure you agree the fare with the driver in advance of setting off | In good condition. Many car hire services available. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crime rate: | Very low | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Main types of employment | Service catering for tourists | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Future plans: | Further development of tourist sights and activities. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yield range | 5-7% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type of property | Entry Price | Rent-Peak | Rent-Off Peak | Average Annual Yield | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 bed apartment | £180,000 | £1000 | £900 | 6.3% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 bed apartment | £230,000 | £1300 | £1100 | 6.2% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 bed townhouse | £220,000 | £1300 | £1100 | 6.5% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Detached | £245,000 | £1300 | £1000 | 5.9% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demand for letting | Peak | Off peak | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Very high | Very high | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finance and leisure scores: | Total (out of 10) | Financial (out of 5) | Leisure (out of 5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flights scheduled from: | Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Typical cost of flights: | Peak | Off Peak | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1100 GBP+ | 500 – 1000 GBP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operators: | British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Caribbean airways, BWIA Flights, American Airlines, Air Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description: | The beautiful stretch of coastline must have been a welcomed sight to the English settlers who first docked at Holetown in 1625. Then covered with thick forest and swamplands, now known as the 'platinum' coast. Here you will see the most obvious signs of opulence, where land is worth more than US $3 million an acre and the rich and famous have made their stake in paradise.I have included this in our hotlist as Barbados is here to stay. Everyone has heard of it and everyone dreams of visiting it. The rental market has remained competitive hence rental values have been pushed down however property prices have risen steadily above worldwide averages and will do so in the long term future.St James is one of the areas you can expect a better yield but only enough to justify it as a holiday or retirement home. You will rent out the property in no time and there are plenty of reputable letting agents in and around St James. Expect to cover all your costs on a repayment mortgage and look forward to getting a holiday or retirement home for free in 25 years! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hot Website: | www.caribzonescaribbean.com/stjamesbchspon.html | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estate Agents: | Name | Address | Tel | Web | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jennifer Alleyne Ltd. | Molyneux Plantation, St. James, Barbados, W.I | (246)-432-1159 | www.jalbarbados.cominfo@jalbarbados.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AAAltman Real estate | Derricks, St. James - West Coast office |, Barbados | 246 432-0840 | www.aaaltman.comrealestate@aaaltman.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elegant Properties Realty | Sandy Lane, St. James, Barbados | 246 432-0221 | info@elegantpropertiesrealty.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letting Agents: | Name | Address | Tel | Web | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AAAltman Real estate | Derricks, St. James - West Coast office |, Barbados | 246 432-0840 | www.aaaltman.comrealestate@aaaltman.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Angler Apartments | Clarke's Rd.#1 Derricks Saint James 170209 Barbados | www.barbadosahoy.com/angler/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||