Barbados Today

Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA) Chief Executive Officer Kerry Hall says the entertainment industry can play a huge role in the island’s leading foreign exchange earning industry.

Speaking on the sidelines of the season finale of Mahalia’s Corner at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Hall said as the BTPA seeks to create a tourism industry that is high quality, diverse and inclusive, it is an excellent opportunity to promote some of Barbados’ most talented youth.

“Music is the universal language of the citizens of the world. It transcends colour, creed, nationality, ethnicities. We feel that we want to showcase the supreme talent of our Barbadian people and this is one. We are supporting Mahalia’s Corner and 2 Mile Hill and partnering with Honey Jam and Christmas Jazz,” she said.

“We believe that we need to showcase our talented Barbadians. When I look around the audience, I know we have a fantastic and loyal following with the Barbadian people. I want to see some visitors. You never know who would be in the audience that would discover the next Rihanna or the next big thing to come out of Barbados.”

Largely impressed with performances at last Sunday night’s show, Hall revealed that the BTPA will be launching the My Barbados app as one of many initiatives aimed at putting entertainers into the mainstream tourism industry.

“I was blown away by the Voice Project. Everything we do at the BTPA is critical to create a space for our talented Barbadians, particularly our youth, who are going to take this country to the next level. With respect to entertainment, we are about to launch an app and we will be showcasing our young people.

She went on: “Tourism, as the lead industry, must bring along all the rest. This is the sustainable tourism we seek to have here in Barbados for future generations.”