Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) Ryan Forde says efforts have been ongoing to accommodate visitors stranded in Barbados after disruption in air travel due to United States military air strikes in Venezuela on Saturday morning.
The action had forced the cancellation of numerous flights, but airlines at Grantley Adams International Airport resumed normal operations yesterday.
Forde said the BHTA has been working with Government and private stakeholders in finding accommodation for those unable to travel, including those connecting from cruise ships.
“It is the busiest time of the year for us, so accommodation was limited. However, due to not having an influx of persons coming in due to those cancellations, we were able to work together to find solutions for as many of the guests as possible, and many of them would have extended their stay. There are obviously going to be some that have to extend further due to having limited carriers to support the ones that were cancelled, but it is reassuring that the airspace has reopened for those specific carriers,” he explained.
While he could not quantify the economic impact of the fallout, Forde said one plus was that the visitors got a longer glimpse of the island.
“It is reassuring in a strange way that guests were able to see the destination for a little bit longer . . . . However, no one wants to go through such an exercise, regardless, and we did our best as a partnership between the public and private sector. We appreciate working with all the stakeholders to make sure persons are comfortable and obviously the membership being as flexible as they can to assist.”
(AJ)
