Over the past week, we were told of two changes the Government is hoping will help significantly in fighting the current crime wave.Last weekend, during the Barbados Labour Party’s annual general conference, Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced a Cabinet reshuffle. In that shifting of ministers, Member of Parliament for The City Corey Lane was named Minister of State with responsibility for Crime Prevention. He will work directly with Attorney General Dale Marshall.Lane’s appointment was among several changes. Dr The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott, the Senior Minister of Social Sectors and Environment, was named Minister of Health and Wellness, taking over the portfolio that had been held by Ian Gooding-Edghill who is now Minister of Tourism and International Transport.
The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) is working on a new strategy to boost the island’s tourism product, making it more authentic and unique and eventually roping in thousands of locals to showcase Bajan experiences.Speaking to Barbados TODAY in the Grand Cayman where the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the International Aviation Transport Association (IATA) conference is being held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, chief executive officer of the BTMI Dr Jens Thraenhart said the eastern Caribbean island had more to offer than sun, sea and sand.He said the new project, called The Bajan Experiences Collection, would not only make the island’s offerings stand out, but it will also make way for communities to benefit more from the tourism industry.“Barbados shouldn’t be a seasonal destination, it should be an all-round destination. The fact that it is not is an opportunity and I believe we can solve that by repositioning Barbados from the beach only,” said Thraenhart, w
Barbados’ tourism industry is on track to rebound from the crippling impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.Based on a presentation made on Monday by Minister of Tourism and International Transport Senator Lisa Cummins, who is part of a five-member Barbadian delegation attending the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and International Air Transport Association conference in Grand Cayman, the road to recovery is looking very promising.“For the first time in many months, hotels are full, restaurants are full, attractions are full and taxis are busy. Barbados is open for business and the world knows it,” she said.She reported that from January to August this year, Barbados saw 253 966 arrivals, which she described as an impressive increase when compared to 2021.Of those visitors, 77 926 were from the United States; 27 152 from Canada; 106 351 from the United Kingdom; 9 116 from Europe; 28 048 from the Caribbean; 2 602 from Central and South America; and 2 771 from other areas.
There is good news for entrepreneurs who depend on the cruise ship industry to make their living. The sector is expected to not only bounce back this winter season but return to pre-COVID-19 levels.Minister of Tourism and International Transport Senator Lisa Cummins announced on Monday that following a bleak summer period, close to 400 cruise ships carrying more than 700 000 passengers are expected to dock in Bridgetown between November this year and April 2023.During a presentation on the state of the island’s tourism industry at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Grand Cayman, on day one of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and International Air Transport Association conference, she said this would augur well for many small business owners who were significantly affected by the bummer summer period.“We are expecting to have a total over the course of the year of 390 vessel calls, taking us up to 739 557 passengers. We expect that number [passengers] will increase as the winter seas
Mount Gay Distillery is reaffirming its commitment to the island with massive investments into the construction of a new sugar mill and aging bond at its St Lucy plant.
During a recent tour of both facilities, Managing Director Raphaël Grisoni e