Barbados Tourism Minister Sees Latin America as a Growing Market
Bridgetown.- If there is to be growth in the industry, Barbados must open up new markets, said Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy, whose eyes are looking at Latin America as the life line to brace through what he called turbulent times for tourism.
Brazil and Argentina top the list of potential markets to be explored by Barbados, but, as Sealy put it the main trouble is airlift. "We are talking with some of the airlines," he said about the possibility of reaching agreements with the region's airlines.
He also emphasized that without a strong marketing strategy, the island won't be able to preserve its market share. "We are beginning some advertising on Sky Sports Television and on the weather program to ensure that we get some more business out of [Britain] during the winter season," he noted.
He, however, expressed concerned about the economic reality in the United States, Britain and Canada, the island's three main sources of visitors. "We are really in some turbulent times. All of our major markets are in trouble. We all know what is going on in the [United States]. In [Britain] there are significant layoffs and so on. Even Canada, except for Western Canada with its oil wells [which] is doing well, but in Quebec and Ontario, jobs are simply disappearing. This is a very troubling time."
Brazil and Argentina top the list of potential markets to be explored by Barbados, but, as Sealy put it the main trouble is airlift. "We are talking with some of the airlines," he said about the possibility of reaching agreements with the region's airlines.
He also emphasized that without a strong marketing strategy, the island won't be able to preserve its market share. "We are beginning some advertising on Sky Sports Television and on the weather program to ensure that we get some more business out of [Britain] during the winter season," he noted.
He, however, expressed concerned about the economic reality in the United States, Britain and Canada, the island's three main sources of visitors. "We are really in some turbulent times. All of our major markets are in trouble. We all know what is going on in the [United States]. In [Britain] there are significant layoffs and so on. Even Canada, except for Western Canada with its oil wells [which] is doing well, but in Quebec and Ontario, jobs are simply disappearing. This is a very troubling time."