Barbados announces radical measures to attract more visitors
Barbados could allow same-sex marriages, cannabis for recreational use, and gambling later this year.
The Caribbean island’s minister of tourism Kerrie Symmonds said all measures will be put to a public vote in 2019.
Speaking to TravelMole during a visit to London, Symmonds said Barbados wants its tourism offering to be ‘truly inclusive’. The country already has a good track record on LGBTQ+ tourism, and was even given an award for its work in this area by Virgin in 2018, said Symmonds. New measures will also include better provision for handicapped visitors.
To improve the quality of the country’s hotel accommodation, hotels will be offered government loans at ‘competitive’ rates for refurbishments, he said. In addition, 2,000 additional rooms are planned over the next four years, increasing the island’s bed stock by almost 30%.
Spread across 20 sites, mainly on the southern coast, expressions of interest are being sought for new hotel development and not just at the top end of the star rating. ‘We need to have a good mix of hotel inventory that allows visitors on a budget to come to the island as well as continuing to encourage the high rollers at the very top end of luxury’ said Symmonds.
He said the new builds will be in areas that are currently under-developed. "This strategy will allow for more people to get a slice of the tourism pie as around this growth will be the inevitable demand for more cafes, restaurants, bars, rum shacks and attractions."
One of Symmonds’ main aims is to maintain and even increase the amount spent by visitors to the island, especially those who arrive by cruise ship, so efforts are being made to incorporate more local sport and culture into trips and tours.
During this year, the tourist board will transition into a public-private partnership, which will give the island’s tourism stakeholders a say on how the funding is spent and how tourism is developed.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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