EDITORIAL
Many years ago the industry that kept the wheels of our economy running was sugar, then sugar began to decline, and once again we put all our eggs in our basket and began to focus on something that could bring in just as much or more foreign exchange than sugar ever could – and that was tourism.
We have since then sought to diversify the economy more, not only embracing tourism but also the international business sector, but both these sectors are risky, as we are relying on things over which we have absolutely little or no control. In relation to tourism, the fact is that industry is subject to many outside influences, influences that can and have resulted in declines in our arrivals at times and certainly the spend of visitors to our shores.
Nevertheless, tourism is today still our greatest revenue and foreign exchange earner and therefore it is imperative that we are all reminded about the importance of the tourism industry to the overall development of our country. A major aspect of that is attracting investment, both local and foreign, to help advance this sector.
However, if we are to truly move forward in this sector, our efforts to market Barbados as a premier destination have to be pursued with much more vigour that it has been done in the past ensuring that what sets us apart is what we keep foremost in the minds of potential visitors. To help advance the cause there must be an all of society approach to help push the sector, this will help to ensure that the visitor experience is even better, as Barbadians would have a vested interest in it.
However, as steps are taken to encourage local participation, efforts must also be made for this country to explore and embrace, even more, other markets for both our tourists and investments. While tourism numbers in terms of both long stay and cruise are climbing steadily over the last few years, we cannot rest on our laurels, we must move forward with gusto and work hard at keeping that momentum going. Some years ago there was a push towards community tourism, but that seems to have waned over the years. We tend to focus on pushing tourism along the South and West Coasts of this country and the businesses in those areas profit, but there is absolutely no reason why the malls, stores and restaurants further inland cannot also benefit from tourists’ dollars. In that vein the Diaspora also has an important role to play not only in terms of being visitors to our shores, but promoting Barbados as an ideal tourist destination to their friends and family abroad.
While Government must be commended for embracing these persons, it is time to take it a step further. It is hoped that the We Gatherin’ initiative helps in that regard and we can build on it in the years ahead. This would certainly help to bolster our tourism industry, but would allow these persons, like those in Panama the descendants of those who worked on the Panama Canal, to reconnect with their relatives here on the island. There can be no denying that there is a need to revamp our economy and employ new approaches to development and at the centre of that must be greater co-operation between Barbadians living at home and those in the Diaspora.
Perhaps one way to encourage the Diaspora to get on board is to promote cultural heritage tourism tours to Barbados – a complete package that gives those in the Diaspora the opportunity to experience Barbados in a new way, learning first-hand about the country of their ancestors. This links back the idea of community tourism and getting all those living in this country to come on board and be the natural born hosts we are capable of being.