Tourism minister says Barbados will better cater to all market segments

Minister of Tourism and International Transport Senator Lisa Cummins is promising that Barbados will continue to develop an inclusive tourism product that better caters to all market segments, including the LGBTQ+ and disabled communities.

Her comments came ahead of a fully booked all-inclusive luxury gay cruise setting sail from Barbados on Friday night. The seven-night cruise ends back in Barbados on March 18.

One passenger who travelled to Bridgetown from Canada three days in advance told Barbados TODAY he was a bit disappointed that the destination did not have more activities for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“There simply aren’t a lot of things to do on island. There is nothing much for us to do in Barbados really. Apart from the beach, there was not a lot more. I was hoping to go to a club but I ended up going to an outdoor bar,” he said.

“When we come to the islands we don’t want to stay in the hotel or just go to the beach . . . It is my first time to most of these Caribbean islands and to be honest, I was a little disappointed with Barbados,” he added.

When asked recently about plans to develop a more all-inclusive tourism product that caters to various segments of the market, including the LGBTQ+ community, Cummins said: “We are presently at this point looking at inclusive tourism, very much so, for all segments, not any specific segments.”

She said while no firm decision has yet been made to go after that segment of the market, “what I can say to you is what I said before – we are an inclusive destination and we have to find mechanisms and different ways to be able to allow people to feel as though they belong when they come to Barbados”.

“That is what we have always said. We say ‘you come, you are friends, you are family’ and that is what we have to be able to share with anybody from any orientation, from any place in the world, whenever they come,” added Cummins.

Singling out the disabled community, Cummins said authorities were looking at how to make their trip a more pleasant one from the moment they arrive at the Grantley Adams International Airport.

“So, inclusive tourism is very much one of the platforms we are pushing for in this incarnation and everyone who falls under that, I think we have been very clear as an administration overall, even though we have taken some fire for it, that we do not believe in discriminatory practice against anyone, of any kind, of any nature, or for any reason, and so I think you should expect that there will be consistency across the board in everything that we do,” the Tourism Minister said.

Approximately 600 guests aboard the Silver Spirit vessel for the sold-out gay cruise will visit Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Martinique, St Barts, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Lucia.

“It’s time to travel again, in style. After over a year of missing out, Atlantis is ready to share an extraordinary all-gay cruise experience unlike anything we’ve ever offered,” cruise ship charter company and organiser of the cruise, Atlantis Events said.

Describing Barbados as the perfect place to start an island-hopping adventure, Atlantis indicated that the island had something for every type of traveller.

“One of the great joys of small-ship sailing is to explore destinations beyond the ordinary. We’re starting our journey in vibrant Barbados, where brilliant white sand beaches are the backdrop for a sophisticated and inviting culture,” it said, as it highlighted something about each of the destinations.

The costs of the nine categories on the all-inclusive cruise range from US$1,999 to as high as US$9,000.

The ship, which was originally scheduled to leave at around 10 p.m. was said to be delayed by about two hours due to some late flights on Friday for people who were coming to the island. marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb