Tourism Concessions Reserved for Primary Industry Players, Affirms Symmonds

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, has clarified the government's stance on tourism-related concessions, emphasizing that such benefits are designated for entities whose principal income derives directly from tourism activities.

 

Addressing the House of Assembly during the debate on the Tourist Accommodation Bill, 2025, Symmonds responded to Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne's proposal to extend concessions to a broader range of Barbadians, including rum shop operators, in light of the burgeoning community tourism sector.

 

Symmonds stated, "You can only benefit from concessions in tourism if the majority of the money that you are making is as a direct result of tourism offerings." He elaborated that businesses must demonstrate that their primary earnings are sourced from tourists to qualify for these benefits.

 

Highlighting the potential complications of broadening concession eligibility, Symmonds questioned, "Which rum shop in Barbados primarily makes its earnings off of tourists?" He cautioned that extending concessions indiscriminately could lead to a scenario where supermarkets and gas stations claim entitlements, thereby diluting the intended impact of such incentives.

 

Since assuming office in 2018, the government has implemented policies to support community tourism operators, including those offering accommodations through platforms like Airbnb. Measures such as raising the land tax threshold and facilitating easier access to mortgages have been introduced to assist property owners.

 

Symmonds underscored the necessity of enhancing service standards to bolster the sector's competitiveness. He emphasized that the Tourist Accommodation Bill aims to establish a framework for licensing, classification, and regulation of tourist accommodations, ensuring adherence to world-class standards.

 

"We have to come to the point where we have a standards economy," Symmonds asserted, advocating for uniform standards across all sectors to elevate business acumen and expand Barbados' services into regional and global markets.

 

He concluded by highlighting the importance of maintaining high standards across various professions, from hairdressers to contractors, to enhance the overall quality of services and position Barbados favorably in the international arena.