BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) — Prime Minister Freundel Stuart says his government is continuing to diversify the Barbados economy to ensure that the country is not dependent on any one sector.

He made the comments on Wednesday night to a group of tourists attending a repeat visitors reception. Government officials present included minister of tourism, Richard Sealy; and minister of labour, Senator Dr Esther Byer Suckoo.

Stuart said the tourism industry led the economy, and the ministry of tourism was interested in developing increased traffic from different destinations, including Norway.

However, he noted that the government was also hard at work trying to put in place mechanisms for the use of renewable energy sources. In addition, he stated, the cultural industries were being developed so the talents of Barbadians could be put “to proper, effective and profitable use”.

According to him, Barbados had given the world a top, international recording artiste in Rihanna. However, he stressed that there were many other talented persons here who were awaiting similar opportunities. He said the Cultural Industries Development Act had been passed, the Cultural Industries Development Authority had been established, and the ministries of tourism and culture would be working closely to develop the synergies that could result from that collaborative relationship.

Stuart told his audience that government was continuing to work towards making Barbados one of the safest, happiest and most peaceful places on this planet.

“And I think we have done quite well up to now in trying to achieve that objective. But we could not have been as successful as we have been, particularly over the past 50 years as an independent nation, had it not been for people like yourselves, who let slip no opportunity to demonstrate your faith and your confidence in Barbados,” he stated.

Meanwhile, industry minister Donville Inniss said there is a dire need to increase the exports of goods and services from Barbados to a global market.

Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, Donville Inniss
He insisted that the country must first start with the region, as it is the largest export market for goods and services from Barbados, and the one that offers the greatest potential to increase exports.

Inniss was speaking at a recent press conference following a five-day Caribbean Community (CARICOM) trade mission aimed at generating increased exports to Saint Lucia, Grenada and Guyana.

Stating that the last statistics he had seen indicated that from January to September 2015, Barbados exported approximately $259 million in value of goods to the region, the minister explained that with the current trajectory, the figure in 2016 could expect to reach $285 million in exports to the CARICOM region.

He continued: “Many Barbadians might certainly not appreciate the volume of goods that we export in the region and whilst these figures might seem significant, we didn’t get there just by sitting here in Barbados and believing others will buy what we produce.”

Inniss further explained that Saint Lucia, Grenada and Guyana were chosen based on the volume of exports to those countries, as well as the already established relations. He pointed out that up until September 2015, Barbados had exported approximately $27 million in goods to Saint Lucia; $14.6 million in goods to Grenada; and $49.9 million worth to Guyana, and Barbados needed to improve upon these figures.

“This mission was mounted with the intention of taking into those three territories companies that we know have the synergies there; some of them are already exporting or they are certainly in a position to satisfy any demands of those markets.

“[The mission] was also designed to expose our manufacturers and service providers as to what is happening in the market place. It is one thing to sit here and read reports and to talk to people on the phone but when you get up and actually go there you actually get to feel and experience what is happening,” he contended.

The ministerial party also took the opportunity to explore opportunities for further expanding exports to Guyana, as well as inward investment in areas where Barbadian companies could compete. The prospects for exploring increased trade with Brazil via Guyana’s partial scope agreement with that country were also investigated.

IMAGE: Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart, in conversation with Margaret and Tom Palmer from Scotland. They are on their eighth visit to Barbados and are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. (C. Pitt/BGIS)

Related story:

Barbados announces 2015 best year on record for tourism

From Caribbean News Now

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Barbados tourism industry is on a strong growth path, with 2015 being a record year.

Minister of tourism and international transport, Richard Sealy, in an update on the state of the industry, noted that 2015 was a “turnaround year” with many of the vital signs showing steady improvement.

Long stay arrivals grew by 13.7 percent to reach 591,892, the highest on record. The UK remained Barbados’ no. 1 source market, contributing 37 percent of business with a year on year increase of 14.1 percent. The US market, which represented 25 percent of international visitor arrivals, grew by 25 percent. The Caribbean and Latin America and Canadian markets, which equated to 15.9 percent and 12.6 percent of total long stay arrivals, grew by 13.1 percent and 13 percent, respectively.

Barbados’ growth strategy focused heavily on the diversification of its source markets, including establishing new gateways out of Boston via JetBlue; Bogota, Columbia through Avianca; and a new Thomas Cook service out of Glasgow. The island’s tourism industry also benefitted in 2015 from the introduction of a twice weekly Delta service out of Atlanta and New York, and the switch by Air Canada to a B777 aircraft.

In addition, Barbados shone in the region as the first international destination to receive JetBlue’s new Mint Service, which has since been extended to a once weekly year-round service. The island also copped best destination awards from Expedia, Caribbean Journal and the Telegraph.

The minister also revealed that the new all-inclusive Sandals Barbados, as well as the new Sugar Bay all-inclusive resort, contributed approximately 380 more rooms to the island’s room inventory during the year and contributed in a great way to the increase in new long stay arrivals. The Sandals property is set to construct an additional 220 rooms in 2016, while the new Beaches resort will commence construction at the site of the Almond Beach Resort later this year.

On the cruise front, Barbados registered a 5.1 percent increase in arrivals or 71,408 to reach 586,615.

There were 394 cruise calls or one fewer than in 2014. This growth was driven by some 16 new cruise ship calls, including visits by mega players, Mein Sheiff 3 and Carnival Britannia. These ships were accommodated following a recent expansion project at the Bridgetown Port.

According to the Central Bank of Barbados, tourism’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) was $133 million in 2015, an increase of six percent and one of the largest increases registered in recent times.

Sealy indicated that efforts to increase visitor spend were underway including the development of new attractions and community tourism events.

The minister revealed that in 2016 several plans would be implemented to ensure this positive progress continues, while joining in the jubilee celebrations to mark the nation’s 50th anniversary of independence.

Of mention were the establishment of a new European division of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI); the imminent launch of a new destination website; the hosting of Barbados’ leading global tour operators during Connect Barbados 50; and marketing efforts targeting the Diaspora.

He added that they would seek to leverage the World Heritage ranking of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison during this historic year with activities that would target cruise passengers in particular.

Sealy also stated he was satisfied with the progress being made toward taking a sustainable approach to tourism, particularly through the island’s participation in the Sustainable Destinations Alliance of the Americas (SDAA).

“With our strong performance and our plans to maintain this growth comes a heightened sense of responsibility to our environment and to ensuring the wider disbursement of the benefits of the sector among the people of Barbados. We also recognized that visitors more than anything want authentic local experiences and this will be a top priority as we develop the sector going forward,” he said.

IMAGE: Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/headline-Barbados-announces-2015-best-year-on-record-for-tourism-29221.html