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Through the swift intervention of the Government in mobilising
the social partners in a unified mission, and by providing
special financial incentives to the industry, Barbados was
unique in averting the social and economic dislocation that
other tourism economies experienced after the terrorist attacks
on the United States on September 11, 2001.
Tourism
now faces profound challenges that include volatility in the
airline industry, the emergence of new and dangerous threats
to security and safety, and new business alignments that will
affect investment decisions and airlift capacity.
To further
promote tourism, we have established a legal and regulatory
framework that offers attractive incentives in virtually all
aspects of the industry.
In
the next term, the BLP’s priorities will include:
- Further
broadening the appeal of our tourism product in all of its
facets.
- Ensuring
that tourism is the prime catalyst energising other sectors
of the economy, in such a way as to involve every citizen,
in every community.
The BLP
will work vigorously to ensure that Barbados is a destination
of choice for discriminating travellers.
A BLP
Government will inject $150 million in projects for tourism
product development.
Barbados
Tourism Investment Inc., (BTII) will continue to drive product
development and will partner the private sector in selected
joint ventures.
Projects
will include:
- Completion
of the second phase of the Bridgetown Board Walk along the
Careenage Inner Basin.
- Reconstruction
of the Chamberlain Bridge.
- Dredging
of the Careenage Inner Basin. This will form part of the
new civic space, along with the Independence Square upgrade.
- The
Constitution River will be brought up to acceptable enviromental
standards and maintained.
- The
Salt Pond Drainage and streetscape project in Speightstown
will be completed.
- Redeveloping
and upgrading the Fish Market and Esplanade at Speightstown.
- Constructing
of a Public Car Park at Speightstown.
- Streetscape
improvements in Speightstown.
- Constructing
a multi-storey Car Park in Bridgetown at Bethel and Cheapside.
- The
erection of a Police Station, Sports pavilion and Public
Car Park at Dover in Christ Church.
- Completion
of the Dover Beach Redevelopment at St. Lawrence Gap.
- Completing
the Dover Watercourse Redevelopment as well as the St. Lawrence
Swamp Redevelopment.
- The
second phase of St. Lawrence Gap refurbishment will also
be completed.
The BLP
will also support a number of Heritage Tourism projects which
will generate income and jobs in the sector.
These
projects include:
- The
completion of the restoration of George Washington House,
- The
redevelopment of Fort Denmark in Speightstown
- The
development of the estates of the Codrington Trust to foster
ecologically sound tourism
- The
upgrading of the west wing of our Parliament
Our tourism
development product efforts will promote new niches; heritage
tourism; retirement villages, boating and yachting facilities
and extend the calendar of specific cultural and sporting
events.
Government
has already secured the resources to build a marina and maritime
museum in Bridgetown.
A
re-elected BLP government will:
- Promote
inland tourism as the future wave of investment in the industry
- Facilitate
additional golfcourse development conditional on such projects
being self sufficient in water resources
- Provide
incentives for the establishment of retirement villages
FUNDING
TOURISM
Our industry
is mature and a significant portion of our hotel plant is
in need of renewal. Our challenge is to provide the capital
necessary to refurbish, rehabilitate and refresh the existing
plant while creating the new capacity to make us competitive.
The BLP
Government has provided finance to the tourism industry with
the establishment of the $30.0 million Tourism Loan Fund and
the $5 million Small Hotels Investment Fund.
We have
reviewed the operation of these Funds and will make them more
readily accessible to
the industry.
We also
will develop joint venture initiatives, provide technical
assistance and/or additional financial resources to:
- Facilitate
the export of Barbados’ branded activity in the sector.
- Support
business activity specifically directed at ownership of
the cruise sector and specific linkages to the cruise and
boating and yachting sector.
- Assist
with the upgrading and expansion of smaller hotel properties.
SPECIAL
EVENTS
We will
develop and promote a series of world class sporting and cultural
events. Tourism must also be the major catalyst for growth
in agriculture, manufacturing, culture and other economic
options.
NEW
INVESTMENT
In less
than six months since the passing of the new Tourism Development
Act, the Private Sector has already submitted proposals to
start up or expand projects, with an aggregate value of approximately
$300m.
Development
planning applications currently being processed by the Town
and Country Planning Department include:
- The
construction of another 500 rooms at Needhams Point in addition
to the Hilton Hotel.
- The
integrated Sugar Hill Project resort complex of a Hotel,
Villas and a Golf course.
- The
Apes Hill Project offering a mix of accommodation and recreational
facilities
- The
Schooner Bay Project at Speightstown, offering upscale Villa
accommodation
- Completion
of the second phase of the Crane Beach Resort Project with
an additional 60 upgraded rooms
- The
120-room Mango Bay Resort at Aquatic Gap
- A
new 50-room hotel at Pavilion Court, Hastings.
- A
200 room Hotel and Condominium development at Landsdown,
Christ Church. Refurbishment and upgrading will also be
carried out at a number of existing properties including
Accra, Asta, Coconut Creek, Royal Pavilion and Glitter Bay.
- Construction
of new Restaurants and the refurbishment and upgrading of
existing facitities.
- Refurbishment
and upgrading of many properties, including Accra, Asta,
- To
facilitate these developments, we will modernise the Condominium
Act and introduce new Time Share Legislation.
COMMUNITY
TOURISM
It is
imperative that all communities own and participate in tourism.
We have therefore developed our brand of “Community
Tourism” to integrate tourism into our communities.
Community
Tourism has the potential to add significant value to the
Barbados product.
We will
therefore implement a programme to foster heritage tourism
in communities across Barbados.
This Community
Tourism will produce a significant number of new stakeholders,
individuals and communities in tourism. The economic impact
of this programme will be substantial, immediate and continuing.
This
concept of a more indigenous brand of tourism will continue
to be promoted through projects such as:
- The
Springvale Eco-Heritage museum and tours
- The
Slave Route project
- Harrison’s
and Cole’s Caves
- Welchman
Hall and Jack-In- The-Box Gullies
- Graeme
Hall Nature Sanctuary.
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