BARBADOS IS LOSING OUT on the multimillion-dollar superyacht industry because it does not have a marina to accommodate today’s large luxury yachts.
Chief executive officer of Foster & Ince, Martin Ince, told the DAILY NATION that Barbados had an opportunity to be the Monaco of the Caribbean, in reference to the country in the French Riviera that was considered the epicentre of the world’s superyacht business.
He said there was “huge potential” for this niche in the tourism market, but regretted that without the necessary marina accommodation, “we are being left behind”.
The cruise expert, whose company has been promoting Barbados in the luxury tourism sector, observed that some of the world’s largest yachts passed through Barbados on their way to places in the region such as St Bart’s. He said Barbados should capitalise on this business, adding he would like to see “a proper mega yacht marina of a certain size” built here, because Barbados was doing “extremely well” in the superyacht business despite not having the infrastructure. (GC)
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