MODERNISE OR BE LEFT BEHIND!

This was the message from chairman of LIAT Jean Holder, to scores of travel agents on hand for International Air Transport Association's Caribbean Aviation Day at Hilton Barbados yesterday.

He said the industry was under threat from new travel websites such as cheapflights.co.uk, travelsupermarket.com, Sidestep, Kayak and other online sites.

Holder said just as the "new online kids on the block" had settled in, they were replaced by these new search engines and were forced to take steps to protect their websites.

He urged the travel agents to keep abreast of the technology or be left behind.

"It means that those who are stuck with the old ways of doing business are about to go out of business.

"It means that every piece of new technology is capable of being replaced by a newer piece of technology, which removes the competitive edge that formerly obtained. It means that only those who are capable of replacing vested interests and conflicting interests by mutual interests will survive."

Minister of Tourism Noel Lynch, in brief remarks, said the challenge for the industry was to keep the costs down by maintaining an effective airline service in an era of super competition.

He assured the gathering the region had a constant and realiable airlift that would sustain its economies. (JW)