Tourism should not be taken for granted – Stabroek News

According to the Central Bank of Barbados, tourism output in the island slowed in 2018 to around 0.6 percent, while visitor arrivals increased 2.8 percent last year. The reasons given were that visitors spent less, some stayed shorter and calls from cruise ships decreased.

The report resulted in a comment from Barbados Economic Society President Simon Naitram that, for tourism to be a viable source of widespread economic growth, the industry must evolve. The figures, he said, constitute an early warning on the structure of the tourism industry and on the need for "innovation, investment and a broad social commitment ".

Mr. Naitram's remarks and figures from the Central Bank of Barbados should make the whole region think about the structure of an industry that governments measure based on the number of arrivals rather than the overall value of sales of goods. and services it generates … ..