Diversifying Barbados’ Tourism Product

BARBADOS:  Government is committed to diversifying Barbados’ tourism product offerings to attract more people to these shores.
Prime Minister Freundel Stuart gave this assurance last evening while giving remarks at the fourth and final Repeat Visitors Reception for 2016 at Ilaro Court.
It was also attended by several government ministers, senior public servants, officials of the Barbados Tourism Product Authority, the Barbadian members of the winning West Indies Women’s Cricket Team, and the Junior Minister of Tourism, Rashana Jones.
Mr. Stuart told those gathered: “There are many visitors to our shores and potential visitors to our shores who are especially interested in matters relating to heritage and preservation and that is an area of our tourism sector which we are committed to developing.
“It is important to diversify our product offerings to appeal to a wider range of visitors and to attract additional people here.” He identified medical tourism as one of the many areas Government was trying to develop as it seeks to diversify the product offering.
The Prime Minister noted that tourism was the island’s leading sector and promised that Government would continue to make Barbados as congenial, comfortable and safe an environment as possible.
Mr. Stuart pointed out that during his interaction with visitors, the refrain was the same, “you have a beautiful country and your people are special.” He added: “Earlier in the night a repeat visitor told me that whenever she leaves Barbados to go back home, she leaves her heart here and since she knows she cannot live without a heart, she knows she has to come back.”
Some of the visitors included Ingried Brinkman who is on her 81st visit; Susan McMillan and John McDonald who have visited 65 times; Joy Pearson who travelled here 62 times and David and Susan Briscoe who are on their 60th visit. Richard and Lorraine Thorley, who came here for their honeymoon in 1982 and have been returning two or three times yearly, are now on their 70th visit. They purchased a home here and every year they now spend five months in Barbados.
sharon.austingill-moore@barbados.gov.bb