AN ORGANISATION WHICH FUNDS tourism projects in Barbados has been lobbying for an ease from one of Government’s budgetary measures.
The Tourism Development Corporation’s (TDC) chairman G. Anthony King reported that the organisation had been in communication with the Ministry of Finance after “the removal of the enhanced deductions for tax purposes of membership contributions to the TDC”.
Addressing the issue in the TDC’s 2015 annual report, he said it had given them “much cause for concern”.
“The TDC has requested that this facility be restored, and further communication with the minister on this is ongoing. Our public sector partners have turned to the TDC on many occasions over the years to support projects that they were unable to fund in total or in part, and we have frequently stepped up to the plate and support product and promotional programmes that have been in Barbados’ best national interest,” King said.
“We must therefore appeal to members to remain supportive of the cause of the TDC and that of Barbados’ tourism, while the board seeks to resolve this issue.”
For the financial year ended March 31, 2015, TDC earned a small surplus, which though lower than 2014, reflects “the continued sustainability of the TDC”, the report noted.
“The lower surplus for the year was primarily related to membership contributions recorded, which were approximately $134 000 lower than for the prior year. In part, this was because some
$60 000 in member contributions attributable to 2014/15 were not received until after the close of the financial year,” King reported.
“Development and promotional expenditure for the current financial year was approximately the same as last year”, $490 778 in 2015 versus $497 685 in 2014.
Meanwhile, King said the TDC was prepared to help solve the Sargassum seaweed problem which affected Barbados last year. He said the organisation “stands ready to assist with a well thought through project which can materially reduce the seaweed on the beaches in a sustainable manner, and which has the endorsement of our tourism and environmental partners”. (SC)