In a record-breaking tourism performance yesterday, Barbados welcomed its 812 864th cruise ship passenger for the year.
However, even though that number is projected to reach one million arrivals by 2019 along with record visitor arrivals at the Grantley Adams International Airport this year, there are concerns about the ability of the island’s ports of entry to handle the growing tourism load.
In welcoming the record-breaking American couple Laura and Tom Thiaman, Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy expressed his concern about the facilities. The couple were also greeted by a group of tourism and Barbados Port Inc officials as they disembarked the Star Pride.
Sealy said the tourism season was performing as expected and estimated the one millionth passenger in 2019 and at GAIA 650 000 long-stay arrivals this year.
While remarkable in their own right, Sealy noted the record achievements brought their own share of challenges for the two ports of entry.
“We are dealing with a very dated facility which was not constructed with cruise activity in mind. It has been one of our issues and it is one that we have had to address, because if we are going to develop this particular sector we have to have that capacity,” Sealy said. (AD)Â
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