Richard Sealy, Minister of Tourism 
Adrian Elcock – Chairman of the BTA
Excerpts related to tourism Budget Speeches 2008 to 2012:
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There are some critical national concerns and a Tourism Master Plan is currently being designed by a new Unit in the Ministry of Tourism designed to look at our tourism development strategy in a holistic way addressing our product, land use policy, marketing, carrying capacity and linkages to our other sectors and the lives of Barbadians among other matters.
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The expansion of the luxury tourism market will include the construction and opening every two years of a major internationally branded luxury hotel and associated branded residences catering to the five-star and ultra luxury tourism market.
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The expansion of the luxury room stock will also assist in the establishment of the Health Tourism market in Barbados.
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I [the late David Thompson’s first budget] have just returned from a CARICOM Heads of Government meeting at which tourism, regional and international transport were discussed for one full day. Some important decisions were taken including the commitment to a regional brand, the establishment of a Caribbean Tourism Marketing Fund and discussions are taking place between LIAT and Caribbean Airlines Limited on their future together – Budget 2008
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We must maintain our presence in the marketplace and make our marketing more impactful and efficient. We have increased the Budgets of the Tourism Authority and Invest Barbados significantly for the task. We have streamlined the corporate structure of the BTA and increased the mandate of Invest Barbados to include the Diaspora and launched the Team Barbados concept in our foreign Missions under the CIEX mandate – Budget 2009
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In addition, I propose to establish a Tourism Loan Guarantee Facility to provide assistance to those hotels which require working capital support. The provision of guarantees presents a viable option for government as it will enable the sector to meet its working capital needs with little damage to government’s fiscal position – Budget 2010
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Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, this Government will work with our cultural workers, across disciplines to establish a public/private sector mechanism whose focus will be to promote, market and distribute the products and services of our cultural workers. It is hoped that after the appropriate consultations with all stakeholders, which I suggest should begin in short order under the auspices of the Ministries of Culture, Tourism and the Ministry of Finance (Investment Division), the mechanism will be put in motion in the shortest possible timeframe – Budget 2011
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It has been proposed to establish a Hotel Refurbishment Fund to assist small and medium sized hotels. An additional $5 million will be provided to the BTA to assist with special marketing activities. Land taxes on hotel accommodation to be frozen at current levels (11/12) for the next two evaluation cycles – Budget 2012
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The Minister announced that over the next 18 months, an additional US$50 million is to be expended on the marketing and promotional activities of the Barbados Tourism Authority.
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The Minister also announced the launch of the “Barbados International Culture and Sports Tourism Promotion Initiative”. This initiative would market Barbados for culture and sports events, and would be funded by
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It was also announced that the Bds$50 million Hotel Refurbishment Fund (announced in the 2012 B udgetary Proposals) is being administered by the Central Bank of Barbados and is now ready to receive applications from registered tourism accommodation establishments. This Fund is to be financed by surplus funds from NIS which will be loaned at reasonable rates of interest. an initial investment of Bds$20 million – Budget 2013
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