(from left) Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy talking with former Prime Minister and Ambassador designate to China Sir Lloyd Sandiford; President and CEO of the Barbados Tourism Authority, David Rice; and Permanent Secretary in the Tourism Ministry, Andrew Cox yesterday. Although there is no word yet on when Sir Lloyd will be leaving for China he has begun a series of farewell visits to various Ministries starting with the Tourism Minister and his offices yesterday.
Tourism eyes on Asia
7/25/2009
CHINA, and by extension other Asian countries, has been highlighted as a possible new tourist market for Barbados.
So indicates Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy, after Ambassador designate to China, Sir Lloyd Sandiford, began a series of farewell visits to various Ministries with the Tourism Minister at his offices yesterday.
In a short press briefing Sealy said that the Tourism Ministry is “doing a number of things to try to pull us out of the recession,” adding that “One of the areas we have identified is that of emerging markets. China and by extension the entire continent of Asia does hold some opportunities for Barbados – both as a source market for tourists as well as a source market for tourism investment.”
There is no word yet on when Sir Lloyd will be leaving for China or where the embassy offices will be located.
However, Sir Lloyd told the media that he had assured Minister Sealy that “I recognise the deep importance of tourism as one of the major sectors of our economy and the need to deal with that area in terms of promotion as earnestly as possible.”
Sir Lloyd added, “We will work closely with his Ministry and the executive agencies related to that Ministry in order to achieve whatever goals are set.”
Saying this was “all in keeping to prepare ourselves for 2010 and 2011 when we start to pull out of the recession and do better in our existing markets and in emerging markets such as China,” Sealy sought to use the time with the media to also disclose some more changes at the BTA.
Sealy said that “in order to be more effective in these emerging markets, the Government is committed to the adjustment of the private institutions that govern the tourism efforts. As recently as Wednesday I received a series of recommendations from the Board of the Barbados Tourism Authority to make a number of adjustments to various contractual arrangements at the BTA.”
However, Sealy said that the nature of these contractual changes, which the Barbados Advocate understands will deal with how BTA employees will be deployed, will be made known to the public after consultation with Cabinet. (KG)
