BY SHARIFA MEDFORD | SEP 20, 2023 |
PICTURED ABOVE: Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, and Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Dona Regis-Prosper. (C./ Pitt/BGIS)
The development of Barbados’ cruise industry was among the topics discussed when Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, met with Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Dona Regis-Prosper, recently.
During the meeting at the Ministry’s Warrens, St. Michael office, Mr. Gooding-Edghill expressed concern that the southern Caribbean was not benefitting fully from the cruise industry despite the “marquis locations with excellent ratings” that are located in the area.
The Minister stated that there was need for a conversation with the region’s Ministers of Tourism, in an effort to create a plan and negotiate with the cruise operators.
He noted that his Ministry had embarked on a study to determine where the sector is currently, before developing an overall destination strategic plan.
Mr. Gooding-Edghill also discussed the “business” of tourism with the CTO’s CEO and stated: “I think, as a region, we need to see how best we can maximise returns from the tourism industry. The Caribbean is a destination where travellers like to visit to explore, and people who come here fall in love with the region, and I think that’s why there is a lot of investment in the Caribbean…. I think we have to determine how best we can leverage that and see what returns can be gained.”
Mrs. Regis-Prosper affirmed her organisation’s commitment to assisting Barbados in developing its tourism product, especially in the areas of research and training.
