Strong linkages needed between tourism and other sectors: Grant

Senator Rudy Grant is encouraging strong linkages between the tourism industry and other sectors in Barbados.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), during his opening remarks at the 2019 Barbados Culinary Team Training Update for the Taste of the Caribbean 2019, said the tourism sector has been significantly impacted by the country’s economic challenges.

He said the expansion of the tourism product and financial growth of the economy was reliant on the varying sectors working together.

“All of us know that Barbados is facing significant economic challenges, and that all of us know that each sector has been asked to carry a bit of the burden. Tourism has been asked to carry a significant portion and I believe that the tourism sector is able to drive the recovery that is necessary and to assist with the transformation. That is going to be achieved through the strengthening of the linkages between tourism and other sectors of the economy,” Grant said.

“The success of this industry must not only be related to tourism it must be related to the other sectors that we have strong linkages with as well.

Grant outlined efforts made to partner with the agricultural sector by the Barbados Agriculture Development Marketing Corporation (BADMC) with the recently concluded Agricultural Linkage Project sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank.

While referring to Barbados as the “culinary capital of the Caribbean”, Grant stressed that the island’s tourism product must be enhanced to remain competitively advantageous.

“The reality is that with the increase with respect to the departure taxes, the room rate levies and the increase in the vat, that Barbados is an expensive destination and what we have to do is ensure that our value for money proposition is one that in enhanced.”

Lauding the national culinary team as they prepare for the Taste of the Caribbean Competition which runs from June 21 to 25, Grant encouraged them to “go for gold” as they highlight all Barbados as to offer. (KK)