EXPECTATIONS ARE SOARING among a number of industries in Barbados for 2011 despite the ongoing austere economic conditions and harsh times experienced in 2010.
There is optimism that the island will become more competitive, productive and sought after.
President of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), Colin Jordan, said 2010 was “a challenging year” for the tourism industry but Barbados would be rolling out a number of initiatives to stay afloat and even be outstanding in a number of areas.
“Despite the challenges experienced we saw increases in arrivals and occupancy over 2009. People still wish to travel and many still wish to come to Barbados . . . . In 2011 we expect increased competition from regional and international destinations in terms of product.
“We have to counter this by intensifying our activity in developing our brand and engaging the entire Barbados community,” said Jordan.
Executive director of the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association, Bobbi McKay, said that with more anticipated local support, manufacturing should improve.
“They have begun to support it a lot more and I would like that to increase because it is at the local home base where we are really going to grow and add jobs and that is important,” she said.
In 2010 the agriculture sector was affected in many ways: excessive rainfall, Tropical Storm Tomas, and predial larceny among other natural and man-made disasters.
Dairy farmer Paul Davis told the SUNDAY SUN that while 2010 was “a fairly flat year” for agriculture, specifically dairy farming, things looked to flourish in 2011.
“We should have adequate stocks of forage for 2011. I am hoping that next year [2011] we will increase our milk production over 2010 even if it is a marginal increase. I am slightly positive and hope that we can increase our production over 2010 but we will have to wait and see if the market will go in our favour or not,” said Davis.
International business reported a good 2010. Executive director of the Barbados International Business Association, Henderson Holmes, said while it would be a little difficult to predict how this year would pan out, there were some pointers which indicated “a positive 2011”.
He said international business would be one of the major sectors to determine whether Barbados has a “modern and prosperous” economy in the future.
President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Andy Armstrong, described 2010 as “a very difficult year” for many industries. However, he expected 2011 to be much better but not an extraordinary year.
