BHTA: No easy replacement for tourism as main money earner

Amid calls for Barbados to diversify its economy, a high-ranking tourism official believes Government should continue to place major emphasis on that sector.

The view was expressed by chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Renee Coppin, who has cautioned that it would be ill advised to develop other sectors while putting tourism on the backburner.

Coppin said such calls had come since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when visitors were not able to visit the island due to strict protocols, resulting in the country’s economy losing substantial revenue.

However, she warned that tourism could not be easily replaced and efforts should be made to improve the island’s product as it was the single largest foreign exchange earner.

“In fact when I assumed this office I personally received calls from some well-intentioned people telling me how I have to use my platform to speak for the need for Barbados to diversify our economy. I have to say that my expertise, my passion are not in that area. While I am in full agreement with the need for Barbados’ economy to be firing on all cylinders that is not my mandate.

“…What I am committed to is the continued role of tourism and the BHTA in contributing to the social and economic growth of Barbados by supporting all of our other industries. Tourism does contribute to Barbados by supporting other sectors through expansion of market size and access; by ensuring that there is foreign exchange to support the quality of living of Barbadians; by creating linkages to other markets and thereby engendering better trade opportunities and in a number of other ways tourism clearly establishes why it should continue to be one of the main planks of Barbados’ economy,” Coppin pointed out while speaking at the BHTA’s 70th Annual General Meeting at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Center this morning.

“It is an industry in which we have a natural competitive advantage and we are going to be very hard-pressed to find a quick replacement for it. The question would then need to be asked, ‘Why would you get rid of something you’re good at?’ The challenge therefore becomes how can we make tourism stronger, more responsive and more relevant.”

Coppin said the results of a recent survey showed that Barbadians believed there were more benefits to garner from tourism than drawbacks.

She however, acknowledged that Barbadians were in favour of the country reducing its dependence on tourism, as the pandemic had highlighted its vulnerability.

“Our conclusion based on the information in front of us is that the assertion that Barbadians want to move away from tourism is false and what we understand Bajans really would like is for our island to move away from its disproportional reliance on a single industry, first sugar and now tourism, towards expansion and improvement of our other productive sectors,” Coppin said.
randybennett@barbadostoday.bb