Sealy, who was speaking at a presentation for his St Michael South Central constituency yesterday, Errol Barrow Day, told the DAILY NATION his party's vision would be "properly fleshed out" with the "master plan promised in the 2008 manifesto" titled Pathways To Progress, which listed alienation of too many Barbadians from the nation's flagship industry.

"Most people in Barbados do not consider themselves stakeholders in tourism.

"The attractiveness and diversity of the tourism product are among several critical issues which need to be addressed urgently," Sealy read from the manifesto.

Speaking at Quaker's Sports and Cultural Club, Carrington Village, St Michael, Sealy promised that the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Government would attempt to make tourism even bigger.

"We had a narrow focus, it seems, before; we need to have a broader focus. It will feature significantly on greater community involvement. I was part of a small Opposition that was very united in its position on tourism, where we felt this whole concept of community tourism."

The minister who will be fresh on the job today, added: "We need to look at some of these vehicles like the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc., and other related type institutions to see that the interface between Barbadians and visitors is increased.

"During that you can have a greater visitor spend per tourist and that will benefit the rest of the economy," he concluded.
(KB)