Like its Caribbean neighbours, Barbados should push aside fears that its tourism sector would suffer irreparable harm as a result of the opening up of relations between Cuba and the United States (US).
Instead, Barbados, a tourism dependent island, should move aggressively to take advantage of the economic and other opportunities being created by the decision of US President Barack Obama to normalise diplomatic relations with Havana by opening embassies in the two capitals; ease travel to and from Cuba; remove many of the financial and other restrictions that have impeded trade and the movement of people; and by boosting communication links between them.
So said Donna Forde, charge’ d’affaires of Barbados’ embassy in Havana, who sees “opportunities” for her birthplace and other Caribbean destinations but not economic nightmares when it comes to the impact of the historic and dramatic moves announced last on Obama.
“Caribbean countries have always been concerned about the impact of normalization on their tourism industry but there are ways we can work together to boost travel,” Forde told BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY in a telephone interview while in Barbados last week.
“The Caribbean Tourism Organisation has always had joint marketing programs with Cuba and Cuba has been doing quite well on its own. It is expected to do even better.
“I don’t think CARICOM countries should continue to look at the threat aspect now that the normalization of relations between the US and Cuba is to take place but we should be working on trying to get the airlift to Cuba from this side of the world,” Forde added. “We can also work to include Cuba in the cruise sector as well to make it a Cuba-Caribbean itinerary as a way of developing partnerships.”
Forde doesn’t believe Cuba’s tourism sector wouldn’t pose any immediate and serious threat to Caribbean tourism because Cuba’s level of service didn’t compare favorably with that of many destinations in and out of the region. In addition, she says, the size of its hotels and other facilities couldn’t accommodate a large and steady influx of visitors, at least not right now, she insisted.
“What is considered a five-star hotel in Cuba could never pass muster in many other places,” asserted the career diplomat. “A lot of the investors have been taking liberties because they know the Cubans want the financing and want the hotels built. They also want the tourists. But we can help Cuba in many ways. For instance we can assist in raising service levels, although our own service levels (in Barbados) need some work too.”
High on the list of helping hands Barbados can extend to Cuba would be in the area of food and the restaurants which cater to tourists and local citizens alike.
“Our food is very good and the Cubans are moving to raise the standards of their cuisine,” Forde added. “But they have a long way to reach the level of cuisine and the culinary excellence that we see coming out of the food festivals in Barbados. Clearly, the culinary aspects of their tourism can be improved. There are opportunities for collaboration and what occurred on Wednesday is good news for the Cubans and it can be good news for Barbados if we play it properly.”
