Is cultural tourism key to Barbados’ tourism diversification?
Throughout history, the Greater Caribbean has stood out due to its great cultural diversity that has allowed it to be identified as an important tourist destination.
Today, part of its major attraction focuses on the carnivals that have created tremendous importance in the region, inspiring various cultural and economic activities involving small and medium enterprises including informal street vendors, which has given rise to an increase in the number of tourists during these activities which takes place in the region all year long, producing a powerful impact in the region.
Many persons from across the world are drawn to this region as a result of its cultural wealth.
This wealth is evidenced in its carnivals which are indeed an integral part of the cultural identity of the Caribbean people.
Carnivals have undoubtedly succeeded in forging synergy or a bond between the tourists hailing from different countries around the world and the locals who enjoy a unique and singular activity that reflects the culture and history of the Caribbean.
For many countries, like Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, to name a few, carnival has become one of the main attractions and the primary reason for visiting the destination.
With this understanding, it is necessary to explore in depth the potentialities and trans-sectoral links produced by carnivals and other events of this nature, so as to make the most of this activity’s contribution to the national economy, while ensuring that visitors enjoy and experience this type of activity in its highest form.
A study prepared in 2015 by the Canadian tourism consulting firm Resonance Consultancy highlights five tourist destinations, namely Turks and Caicos Islands, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique, as countries that offer good entertainment activities and events like those involved in carnivals.
Therefore, conscious of the importance of preserving the cultural and historical heritage of carnivals and their link to the tourism industry, the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) promoted the First Meeting of Caribbean Carnivals in Barranquilla in 2013, which highlighted the historical origins of carnivals in the Caribbean societies, emphasising the role of these festivities as an expression or celebration of freedom, social protest and cultural reaffirmation, as well as artistic expression and tourist attraction.
Based on this meeting, the ACS officially revisited the initiative of creating the Caribbean Carnival Network on July 6, 2015, in Santiago de Cuba.
This is one of the most recent projects on the ACS agenda, which will promote an exchange in the area of cooperation and share successful stories and best practices related to the development of the cultural history of carnivals.
The signatory countries involved in the creation of the carnival network include Cuba, The Bahamas, Colombia, Grenada, Guatemala, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Haiti, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic.
Additionally, as a follow-up to these initiatives, the Barranquilla Carnival Foundation has proposed to host the First Meeting on Caribbean Culture, to be held in Barranquilla in May 2017.
This initiative will allow ACS countries to exhibit and present the different artistic representations of their culture, such as dance, music, art and literature.
They will certainly serve as a key element for strengthening sustainable and cultural tourism in the Greater Caribbean region.