Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner is appealing to Barbadians to get back to a place where they recognize the importance of tourism to their very own survival.
Commenting on a story appearing on the back page of today’s DAILY NATION about ratings Barbados was receiving from some of the visitors passing through Grantley Adams International Airport, Sandiford Garner said this was of concern to tourism authorities who had discussed it and determined it was an area that must be tackled “at all levels”.
The article carried excerpts from negative postings on various international websites by visitors to Barbados, who all complained about experiences with “rude” and “arrogant” employees at Barbados’ main gateway.
“Barbados must get back to recognizing that tourism affects every single one of us and it contributes to the pay check of every last one of us” Sandiford-Garner remarked today during a Press conference called by Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre to give an update on the industry.
The Permanent Secretary said the Barbados Tourism Authority had spent a lot of time training frontline industry personnel, but these latest complaints about attitudes at the Grantley Adams International Airport indicated more needed to be done.
“I do believe it is incumbent on every single Barbadian to understand that if the Government is putting all its resources at the disposal of this industry and the workers in this industry, that those persons who are involved at those critical points of entry need to understand and recognize that it is an enlightened approach that they take. . . because every single person who comes to this country props up their livelihood.” (GC)
