The purpose of this study is to examine attitudes of the residents of Barbados to the development of Bed & Breakfast (B&B) accommodation in their communities as part of the preparation for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 hosted by the West Indies. This study measures community response to the B&B initiative developed by the government of Barbados by exploring differences in attitudes towards the initiative. A sample of 322 residents was successfully interviewed over the telephone and participants reported moderately positive attitudes towards the B&B initiative. Frequency of contact with tourists, awareness of the initiative and employment in the tourism sector were significantly related to positive perceptions of the initiative. Moreover, persons who perceived obstacles in the development of this initiative expressed less favourable attitudes towards the B&B initiative. Social exchange and contact theories offered some explanation for these findings and directions for future research.
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