Support coming for tourism properties

New standards and regulations are coming to the tourism sector to support both large and small properties.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport Senator Lisa Cummins, who made the disclosure, said legislation is also on the cards to encourage sustainable development tourism on the island.

Speaking at the grand opening for Bayside Bistro and Nautilus Ocean Suites on Bay Street, St Michael, on Saturday evening, Cummins said: “In the coming weeks and in the coming months, we will be working with all of you to develop new standards and new regulations to be able to support properties like this.

“We have already begun in collaboration with the Barbados Tourism Product Authority, and we have been working also with the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association [so] that properties just like Nautilus Ocean Suites and this amazing bistro have the opportunity to have access to . . . financing and capital to be able to benefit from innovation, digitalisation and, of course, renovations because new properties are always required on the market.”

She added that authorities will be working with operators of existing properties to ensure high standards are maintained.

“ . . . . Because when people come from one property to the other, you are only as good as your last review, and we want to make sure that all the international ratings and all the international partners are working with us and we are working with you to ensure that Barbados is at all times world class and best in class,” she said.

According to Minister Cummins, new sustainable development tourism legislation is also coming and it will outline protections for turtles on the island’s beaches.

“We are preparing to finalise new sustainable development tourism legislation that will include a suite of new measures including things like lighting and leaving the chairs on the beach because that will have an impact on the turtle project,” she said.

“. . . .  If you have the privilege of owning property in such a beautiful location as this, we want to make sure that you also take your responsibility seriously for sustainability and contributing positively to mitigating the impact of the climate crisis in a small island like Barbados.”

Kirk Humphrey, Member of Parliament for the St Michael South constituency in which Bayside Bistro and Nautilus Ocean Suites are located, praised the Chief Executive Officer and founder of the latter and his team for the foresight in developing the property which contains 18 fully furnished suites.

He also encouraged them to keep the surrounding communities involved in any future developments.

“I often see tourism as a community enterprise…. For the most part, most of our tourism development is along our coastline and across the road you would always find houses, and that is why I think it’s so important for persons who occupy this space to recognise that as part of the gift that they also have a responsibility to give to the people who reside in the areas that are close by,” Humphrey said. (SB)