50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

Aviation Posts by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert

Visit to Nevis 1000 years ago

The history of the Arawak people is significant, as they were among the first indigenous groups to encounter Columbus. They established a robust agrarian society rooted in communal living in the Caribbean long before the arrival of Spanish explorers.  Nevis Peak, also known as Mount Nevis, is centrally located within the geography of the island. It dominates the Nevisian skyline and is known for its frequent distinctive cloud cover. This volcanic landmark highlights a history of the na...

The Tale Of Two Islands

When virtue and modesty enlighten their charms, the luster of these beautiful Caribbean islands is brighter than the stars of heaven, and the influence of their powerful magnetism is in vain to resist.I’m talking about Ouanalao and Oualie as the indigenous Arawak people called them. But what the heck.  What’s in a name? To give it a Shakespearian feel. Which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. You will know them as St.Barth and Nevis.  Historians believe th...

New Minister of Aviation appointed in the Caribbean

Today it was officially announced that Dudley Didges will be St.Tosia's new Minister of Civil and Other Aviation. The island doesn't have an airport, but it has vision, which is quite refreshing and contrary to other islands in the Caribbean that have an airport but no vision.In his inaugural address, the Honorable Didges revealed that he is planning on first building a 45ft/15mtr control tower. When asked by a reporter of the St.Tosia Courier why he intends to build a control tower when there i...

Sargassum, a golden opportunity

Yes, a golden opportunity for those who are smart. The key is to transform into treasure what most consider to be a nuisance and litter that is wrecking the region’s tourism-centered economies. Where others see it as a problem, the brainy and wise ones see it as an opportunity to turn it into a sustainable solution and treat sargassum as a resource to benefit from rather than just trash left to rot or dispose of. What smells like rotten eggs can be smelled like something else: opportunity of har...

Boutique-style CARIBAVIA Summit and Retreat builds a greater impact

Large-scale conferences have been around for quite a while now. Because of their scale, these events leave little room for meaningful networking opportunities, tailored experiences, and learnings that come mainly from peer mentorship and the exchange between driven business professionals. What makes CARIBAVIA different?On the contrary, the boutique-style CARIBAVIA Summit and Retreat sets the tone of community building in a small setting where everyone feels included and comfortable to conne...

The CARIBAVIA Alliance approach—starting with summits, then evolving into a Caribbean Airlift Council

An independent source recently compared three potential future aviation/airline models for the entire Caribbean. The conclusion was as follows:The CARIBAVIA Alliance approach—starting with summits, then evolving into a Caribbean Airlift Council, training institute, and knowledge hub—has the highest likelihood of sustainable success. It balances feasibility, stakeholder engagement, and a strategic pathway toward deeper integration, making it the strongest candidate to advance Caribbean aviation...

A Minister who should be an example for others

When Ministers attend an industry conference, it is usually formal and decorous and just for an hour as to show that they have other more important things on their mind. And their short attendance comes over like a favor. They may even attend the lunch. But then they sneak out.Last week at CARIBAVIA on St.Barth I experienced something noteworthy, seldom, and had the privilege to meet someone distinctly else: Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez – Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Invest...

Passenger and tourism taxes may cause economic strangulation

Passenger or tourism taxation is ‘swamp taxation’ because no one besides the tax receiver wants it, and it sucks. Tourists may opt for visiting a different island destination that doesn’t have the taxes, yet does have the same sun, the beaches and the palm trees. Plus, the new discovery may even have more to offer and is worth a repeat visit. Competition in double degree. The taxations were done in several locations, not just the Caribbean. The tax was expected to raise a high amount of governme...

The potential effects of tariff trade wars on the tourism industry

The USA and Canada are the major tourism source markets for most if not all the Caribbean destinations. A trade war that most likely results in rising consumer prices may impact on the tourism industry. Vacationing is not something that one needs but rather something that one wishes and wants. Rising costs of living and increasing inflation results in having less funding for what one wants or wishes for and therefore in order to afford what is needed, the cost of living. Slowing economies in maj...

AI and the future of Caribbean tourism

The stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industry may have to do some rethinking. AI may significantly change the way tourists look for a destination and which hotel to choose.  Tourists may not spend a lot of time anymore checking out websites to read there what is offered there. AI skips the biddly-boo. They may not use the websites of on-line travel agencies and compare one with another. AI makes the process easier. Just provide specifics what one is looking for in a vacation and...

Cdr. Bud Slabbaert
Cdr. Bud Slabbaert
Country France
City Saint-Martin
Posts 69
Experience 2571 days
About me:

Initiator at CARIBAVIA and RIVIERAVIA conferences.

A Specialist in Strategic Communication – i.e. communicating essential information to selected audiences and to ensure that the communication is noticed by the senses, sticks in the mind, and affects the thinking, behavior, or activities of the audience.

Combine this with his current activities as event organizer, award judge, author, editor, columnist, copy writer, and you may conclude that he is a source of power for corporate communication.