BARBADOS HAS LOST thousands of hotel rooms to condominium development and therefore needs brands that appeal to visitors, particularly from the United States.

Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy made this point in the House of Assembly yesterday, stating that the rebuilding of room stock was paramount if Barbados were to take tourism to another level.

Speaking during debate on a Resolution to approve the vesting of land at Harrisons, St Lucy in the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc (BTII) for tourism development, Sealy said he had indicated to BTII directors the need to deal with critical areas such as room stock rebuilding.

Losing business

Saying the Harrisons project fitted right in with the concept of brands and room stock, he said while he was in no way advocating the disuse of indigenous hotels, the island was losing business to regional competitors because they were attracting brands.

The minister reiterated that over the next five years he would like to have one brand per year in the local hotel arena.

He also expressed the wish to see cruise ships berthed in the north of Barbados – either in Speightstown or St Lucy depending on maritime experts; while adding that an aviation facility as a back-up to the Grantley Adams International Airport would be ideal as space to land the increasing amount of private aircraft or in the instance of a disaster.

"It's not as pie in the sky as some people may think", he said, noting that Government would look at the economic feasibility of these sea- and airport ventures in an effort to broaden tourism beyond the West and South Coasts.

Addressing the actual resolution to vest 82.8 acres of land at Harrisons, St Lucy, he said Barbados' interests must be pushed first in the ongoing negotiations between the Government, international management company Rosewood and/or any future investor.

Excellent brand

Sealy said Rosewood was an excellent brand and would fit well with the Four Seasons and Sandy Lane brands, but his Government wanted to negotiate further to ensure that it had "the right agreement".

He explained that an amenable agreement would include the contentious issue of proper beach access, which would have to feature not just a narrow pedestrian path where one would duck under massive shrubbery, but a beach fully equipped with facilties for the public's enjoyment.

Furthermore, he said, the design already included a public carpark in the area of the lighthouse at Harrisons.

Partnership

Sealy said it was Government's intention to have a fifty-fifty partnership with the private sector entity, but with land on West Coast costing $1 000 per quare foot and this 82.8-acre parcel worth several hunded million dollars, Government's interest in the project would have to be solidly recognised.

He said the letter of intent under the former administration did not make that question of Government's equity clear.

Meanwhile, he added that the social and environmental impact study going on in the "very precious" St Lucy area, had satisfied him that the appropriate overall development of the area could positively impact on the people of St Lucy.

The minister plans to sign an agreement on the matter in a few weeks and to break ground by yearend. (RJ)