The ship that is Barbados’ cruise sector has all but run out of steam.
The problems affecting the sector are such that Minister of Tourism Kerrie Symmonds is warning that if immediate action is not taken, that ship is doomed to sink.
Symmonds, yesterday at a Press conference, revealed the findings of a recent situational analysis and reports which found that despite seeing increasing arrival numbers, the cruise tourism sector was floundering.
“The situational analysis having been completed, I am now in a position to say to you that it reveals that the cruise sector in Barbados is in a state of very deep crisis,” Symmonds said to the media.
“In my view, unless imminent and immediate and fundamental alternatives are put in place, we are confronting ourselves with catastrophic failure,” he added.
Port size constraints, inefficient passenger infrastructure, low interest on onshore activities and undesirably poor customer service were all listed by Symmonds as issues which could cripple the local cruise industry.
However, the matter of extremely low spending by cruise passengers was an issue which Symmonds said needed to be immediately addressed. (AD)
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