Prime Minister David Thompson and wife Mara Thompson share a moment with Benoît Santerre (right) and his wife Louise (left), who have been visiting the island since 1970.
Loyal visitors urged to further promote Barbados
3/5/2010
By Regina Selman Moore
Spread the message about what Barbados has to offer and continue to promote Barbados.
This was Prime Minister David Thompson’s plea to a number of repeat visitors, who visited Ilaro Court for a Cocktail Reception on Wednesday night.
Thompson, in greeting the guests on behalf of himself and his wife Mara Thompson, urged them to use whatever means they have available to them, including the social networking website Facebook, to post the best images and experiences and encounters they have had, so as to further promote the island.
“We depend on you to visit us and to let others know what a great time you have had,” Thompson remarked.
Earlier this year, the Prime Minister noted that Government will be employing a number of “simple measures” to aid in Barbados’ recovery from the global economic recession. Stressing the importance of promoting the tourism product to further build loyalty and patriotism from repeat visitors, Thompson noted that loyal visitors to Barbados can look forward not only to more cocktail receptions at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Ilaro Court, but to other initiatives via Barbados’ Friends and Family programme.
This programme is designed for the Barbados Diaspora in key overseas markets, specifically to increase visitor arrivals to Barbados, and at the same time reward members for their efforts in reaching out to friends, family, neighbours, and colleagues, convincing them to visit or revisit Barbados.
Thompson also spoke of the need to involve more youth in tourism and as such he said, a number of primary and secondary school children will be invited to mingle with guests, learn from their experiences as well as share with them at the cocktail receptions.
This time around, guests were serenaded by pupils from the St. Cyprian’s Boys’ School as they entered Ilaro Court and later in the night, with special pieces such as “De Fisherman Song”, Red Plastic Bag’s Crop Over hit “Something’s Happening”, amongst others.
Also present this week were students from various secondary schools, including St. Leonards Boys’, Princess Margaret, Alleyne, and the Deighton Griffith School.
Numerous repeat visitors who spoke to the Barbados Advocate expressed their delight with “all things Barbadian”, and they certainly seemed captivated by the special night out prepared with them in mind. A number of the guests, who have already persuaded their friends and family to follow in their footsteps and visit Barbados, indicated that the warm welcome they receive, as well as the friendships they have built over the years, are special incentives which encourage them to visit time and time again.
