Barbados stands to benefit significantly when 16 cruise ships and 225 charter operators link up for a home-porting initiative to boost the tourism arrivals figures.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Senator Rudy Grant, made this disclosure while addressing a ceremony to welcome Captain Steve Burgoine and his crew of the Arcadia to Barbados for the first time at the Bridgetown Port last Friday.

He said home-porting played an integral part in the economic development of Barbados.

Grant said cruise tourist arrivals were down by 20 per cent over 2003 which had experienced a growth of 31 per cent. This was attributed to more cruise ships sailing from ports in the United States and infrastructural problems experienced in Puerto Rico, he added.

To deal with the declining numbers, the senator said discussions were now in the early stages with various cruise partners to implement long-term contracts. Discussions were also ongoing with cruise officials in the Southern Caribbean to stabilise cruise figures over the next three years.

Grant used the opportunity to congratulate the Bridgetown Port on winning the prestigious Port Of The Year award for the sixth time in 12 years.

"This achievement is commendable . . . ; the work being done by management and staff of the Barbados Port Inc. and the work that is being done by all of our stakeholders and partners in the cruising industry. Then there is the Barbados Workers' Union and all the entities that made that prestigious moment a success."

(JW)