WHILE MORE people are in Barbados for this year’s Crop-Over than in 2009, Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy is unhappy over the number of unoccupied rooms in some hotels.Speaking yesterday morning during the annual Crop-Over breakfast meeting for international journalists, 22 out of 46 of them here for the first time, Sealy expressed the desire to see all hotels full.“I still think we have some more work to do. Hotels should not be 50 or 60 per cent at this time of the year. During Crop-Over all hotels should be full,” he stated.He said the BTA had deliberately set about to have Crop-Over featured more prominently in its tourism marketing efforts, and this was proving to be successful.He noted that a number of flights were coming to Barbados either full or with increased numbers, while promotional activities such as the Barbados Family and Friends Club were helping to bring greater numbers into the island.IncreasesThe minister said LIAT, American Airlines and JetBlue flights were coming to the island full, while flights out of the Britain had shown significant increases.The Canadian market, he said, was doing so well that there will be a direct flight from Montreal.He also reported that flights out of Brazil which only started operations four weeks ago had beena success, and were filled to capacity for the past two Saturdays. “This completely vindicates government’s position to go after Brazil and get that flight started, and the Brazilians are spending. They are becoming a legitimate player,” Sealy said, pointing to an estimated 3 000 Brazilians coming here this year compared to the 500 who came last year. He also expects this number to increase to 5 000 next year.Sealy also disclosed that there will be a direct flight to Barbados from Dallas three times a week from December 16.There is also a proposal for air service from France. “The board is looking at it. They will have our support once the figures make sense. If all goes well we will be looking at a service from Paris,” he said.The BTA is hosting the journalists in association with the National Cultural Foundation.
(MB)
