Cruise passenger arrivals are poised to exceed last year’s tally by more than 160 000 visitors, Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill disclosed on Friday.
Some 826 337 cruise passengers are expected to call at Bridgetown this year from 338 calls compared to the 661 635 arrivals recorded from 373 calls in 2023.
Acknowledging the work of his tourism ministry team, industry workers and the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) in driving the impressive progress of brand Barbados, the minister said there is still work left to be done to maintain the country’s competitive edge in the international tourism marketplace.
He pinpointed the need to work on refreshing the island’s ageing hotels, enhancing attractions and stepping up training across the sector as well as addressing the continued education thrust surrounding the industry.
Gooding-Edghill encouraged industry figures to make the necessary changes to their product and services to keep up with the current and future industry trends and compete with those with more hotel choices and a larger marketing budget.
“With these initiatives and further investment in our product and country I remain confident that Barbados’ tourism future remains very bright and rewarding,” he said as lawmakers took up the Tourism and International Transport head in the 2024 Estimates.
He also noted that the industry’s recovery with the increased visitor arrivals must also be enjoyed by other stakeholders, including the taxi operators.
Responding to a question from Christ Church West MP William Duguid, Gooding-Edghill said a way must be made for taxi service providers at the ports to be able to take advantage of the increased passenger traffic.
He disclosed that he recently met with the representative taxi bodies and told them of the ministry’s willingness to support their marketing efforts by enlisting the services of a professional.
“That initiative was warmly received by both presidents and they are very keen. We have tasked the Bridgetown Port with the recruitment drive, subject to the input of the Bridgetown Port Taxi Association.
“The arrangement would allow taxi operators operating from the Bridgetown Port to get a greater share of the cruise transport market by allowing a person to work with them to build out the required marketing programmes,” he said.
One of the areas that would need to be addressed by the operators and others along the tourism chain, would be how to make provision for other payment methods since many tourists prefer to use credit cards.
“We are working with them. Once we complete the recruitment exercise with their input, we will be in a stronger position for them to capture additional business from the cruise ships,” Gooding-Edghill said.
The tourism minister said there would be a sustained marketing effort in this regard and would include representatives working from inside the Port directing traffic to the operators.
“We believe that this is the correct move in our attempt to help the Bridgetown Taxi operators to secure a greater share of the market and we are going to proceed with great haste to realise that opportunity,” he said.
Gooding-Edghill added that the operators will also, in the future, have representation at overseas market drives and conventions, enabling their greater participation in planning.
This new approach, he said, would lead to financial success for these tourism operators.
(SP)
