One of the oldest calls from businesses in the tourism industry could soon be answered if all goes according to plan for a programme that will make it easier for them to access concessions.
Representatives of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) have started discussions with the Mia Mottley administration to implement a trusted trader programme that would see tourism industry operators being able to finally access concessions under the Tourism Development (Amendment) Act (TDAA) as intended.
A committee has been set up to devise a structure for the programme that would allow eligible tourism industry operators to engage in a level of self-regulation and predictability when dealing with the relevant government agencies, resulting in smoother access to the concessions.
Chairman of the BHTA Reneé Coppin welcomed the proposed initiative, stating that “the time for action is yesterday”.
She said it was necessary to help drive improvements in the industry.
“The battle to get the provisions of the Tourism Development (Amendment) Act operationalised continues to be our primary focus. We have heard the economic advisors speak of the need to drive growth and get our productive sectors working more effectively if Barbados is to see meaningful recovery,” Coppin told a recent BHTA meeting at the Mount Gay Visitor Centre.
“There can be no greater imperative, therefore, than the removal of the barriers to that growth and productivity. At our annual general meeting, our Prime Minister spoke of the possibility of a trusted trader programme to remove much of the red tape we currently encounter as we seek to access the legislated concessions needed to keep our industry globally competitive. Those discussions are ongoing.”
A select group of BHTA representatives, including noted hotelier and operator of the Crane Resort Paul Doyle and the BHTA Chair of Government Affairs Committee Mark Kent, officials from the Ministry of Tourism and other related agencies are tasked with coming up with the structure for the initiative.
Newly elected Chief Executive Officer of the BHTA Geoffrey Roach said he was hopeful that the trusted trader programme would be implemented “as soon as possible” and help to bring relief.
Despite the legislative amendments and a declaration by Prime Minister Mottley four years ago that industry operators should be able to access concessions automatically under the Tourism Development Act (TDA) and the TDAA, there are still complaints that there is too much red tape when tourism entities seek to access concessions.
“Members continue to report issues with the smooth operation of the TDA/TDAA,” Roach said. “A trusted trader programme has been mooted and we are hopeful of this being implemented as soon as possible. I want to urge members to feed any thoughts or ideas to the secretariat so that we can compile and share these.”
The BHTA has also been making a case for privately-owned restaurants on hotel properties but not owned by the hotels to be able to access concessions the same way hotel-operated restaurants would. (MM)
