Barbados’ tourism figures for the last month were “extremely good” and December’s forward bookings are “very encouraging”, said acting Prime Minister Richard Sealy when Australia’s Ambassador to Barbados, Ross Tysoe paid him a courtesy call at Ilaro Court this week.
Sealy, who is the Minister of Tourism and International Transport, also described 2015 as the strongest year on record for tourist arrivals, while crediting the hard work of tourism officials for the increased airlift and visitors.
However, he stressed that there were still opportunities to increase the number of visitors coming from other parts of the world, and identified Germany as one such country.
Sandals, the acting Prime Minister said, was an excellent brand for Barbados, and expressed the view that the country has to attract more of that kind of investment.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Sealy making a point during discussions with Australia’s Ambassador to Barbados Ross Tysoe.
He stated that he would like to see more Australian tourists and the Ambassador stressed that his compatriots had a great fondness for the Caribbean.
During the wide-ranging talks, the officials discussed climate change issues, including the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, currently under way in Paris.
Sealy acknowledged that Barbados was very passionate about climate change because it could have a devastating effect on the region. Ambassador Tysoe noted that Barbados and Australia shared similar concerns, and suggested they could learn from each other in the area of climate change. He said that during his tour of duty he was able to build excellent collaboration with the Caribbean Climate Centre.
He added that his country was a world leader in solar technology and suggested that there could also be cooperation in that area.
Ambassador Tysoe described his three-year tour of duty as “wonderful” and a “great experience”, while Sealy expressed gratitude to the envoy for improving Australia’s relations with Barbados and CARICOM. (BGIS/)