Tourism workers to be toasted

Barbados’ tourism workers will be celebrated during Tourism Week 2024.

Chief product development officer at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Marsha Alleyne, said it was important to recognise and show appreciation for workers in all areas of the island’s main economic sector.

Speaking at the BTMI’s offices in Warrens, St Michael yesterday, she noted the week, scheduled for September 22-28, coincides with World Tourism Day on September 27.

“We felt that it would be great not just to celebrate the day, but to afford our many tourism workers and partners an opportunity to celebrate them and also give them an opportunity to hear more about what is happening within the industry.”

Alleyne expressed “deepest gratitude to those tourism workers who I know work hard”, making Barbados the Caribbean destination with the highest percentage of repeat visitors who come back time after time because of the “warmth and hospitality the Barbadian people exude to visitors”.

A precursor to the Tourism Week is already in gear with the restaurant season which began on September 1. Alleyne said this was an opportunity to include many restaurants in the activities, ahead of the Barbados Food and Rum Festival.

“Deeply discounted” rates will be offered by several attractions to allow Barbadians to enjoy that aspect of the island’s tourism during

this period.

A church service at Mount Zion United Holy Church in Wavell Avenue, Black Rock, St Michael on September 22 will kick off Tourism Week. There will be no parade of workers as has been done sometimes in the past, Alleyne said. Instead, the highlight of this year’s celebrations will be Tourism Megafest, a two-day expo at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, showcasing diverse areas in the industry, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to put their offerings on display, while also giving first-hand insight into the day-to-day activities in various sectors of the industry, including demonstrations focusing on areas of hotel operations.

On World Tourism Day, the redesigned former Pelican Craft Village, renamed Pelican Island, will be the venue for an all-day community pop-up event being organised in association with the Barbados Food and Rum Festival. It will involve entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in the industry.

Acting deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport Anderson Cumberbatch, and Sade Deane, tourism liaison officer of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, who was sitting in for BHTA chief executive officer Ryan Forde, also shared perspectives on the festival. (GC)

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