Discussions to reshape tourism in Barbados

Yesterday saw the virtual launch of ‘Re-imagining Tourism in Barbados’, which will see discussions held in an effort to finally reshape the tourism industry in this country.

The opening of the three-day virtual seminar saw attendees such as Juan Carlos de la Hoz, Country Representative at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Country Office in Barbados, and Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation offer remarks; and also featured Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Lisa Cummins.

She reiterated the importance of protecting not just the sector and the economy, but all those affected by tourism directly, especially with the recent exposure of weaknesses by the current pandemic.

Minister Cummins made the point that the devastating effects of the pandemic on tourism is a great reminder of what needs to be done regarding the sector.

She explained that the sessions, with ‘Re-imagining Tourism in Barbados’ as the focus, would give policy makers and stakeholders – for the benefit of the country as a whole – an opportunity for the offering up of ideas and solutions to look forward to a more adaptive sector and its related products and services.

“Without COVID-19, we needed to have a reimagining conversation around the tourism industry in any event, and COVID-19 has accelerated  not just the advance of conversations on prioritising private sector-led development, it has prioritised the conversations about innovation, digitisation and transformation, along with creativity and bringing new ideas to the table,” said Cummins.ﾛ

The minister stated that on one of the days she would be speaking about the engagement of the local population specific to the theme, with the goal of community owned and community led inclusive tourism development.

“We will be talking about the spillover effect and the relationship with the wider economy, and what that must mean for the incorporation of small, micro and medium sized enterprises. How is there going to be inclusion that speaks to the valid ambitions of small and medium sized enterprises. How do we then treat to the questions of structural transformation that addresses the challenges that are systemic in the sector, as it relates to the enterprise level, both large and multinational enterprises, but that includes also creating pathways for the small, micro and medium sized enterprises,” said the senator.

She also highlighted that discussions would be had with the inclusion of youth in mind, where the goal will be to bring new and fresh voices to the table that have a lot to offer.

Cummins noted that the youth would be able to take advantage of the disruption created by the pandemic and propel the tourism sector forward, using their creativity and building on the experiences of stalwarts in the industry. It was also stated that practicality, feasibility, efficiency, cost effectiveness and authenticity would be addressed.

The minister acknowledged that in a time where a billion fewer tourists travelling globally had created a loss of just over a trillion dollars and put at risk over 100 million jobs, there is no question that reimagining tourism is necessary.

She referenced the fact that according to the Tourism Development Index, Barbados was placed at number 14 in the Latin America and Caribbean region with a rating 39.4% by the Inter American Development Bank (IDB). That meant that the tourism sector was responsible for 40.5% of all receipts for the island and almost 40% of employment.

“There can be no question that there has to be a reimagining of a sector that is both so vulnerable on the one hand, is so well established on the other hand, has such direct spillover effects into the wider economy, but also is in such need of immediate and urgent transformation. For tourism the urgency is now, the time for action is now,” she contended..

(AS)