FIVE YEARS AFTER gaining a UNESCO World Heritage inscription, there is concern that Bridgetown And Its Historic Garrison has missed the boat with regard to reaping the early spin-off benefits.
This comes amid fears that construction of a 15-storey Hyatt hotel in The City could be a threat to Barbados being allowed to retain the inscription.
There was widespread euphoria on June 25, 2011, when the announcement was made in Paris that the hard-fought battle had finally been won and Barbados was among the latest countries to be assigned a UNESCO World Heritage Inscription, a bid in which Barbados invested a reported quarter of a million dollars and lots of time.
But five years later there is now the feeling that Barbados may have lost out heavily on the opportunity for an economic boost and tourism is being cited as a key area of major loss. (GC)
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