BHTA Chairman Calls for Urgent Reforms to Safeguard Barbados’ Tourism Future

Tourism is “the heartbeat of Barbados,” but industry leaders warn that outdated systems and poorly targeted taxes threaten the island’s competitiveness. Speaking at the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) fourth quarterly meeting this week, Chairman Javon Griffith laid out a detailed action plan to modernise the sector while keeping the environment and visitor experience at the forefront.

“Tourism is not a sector of our economy—it is the heartbeat of Barbados,” the chairman declared to an audience of government officials, tourism partners and private sector stakeholders. “It fuels our foreign exchange earnings, sustains thousands of livelihoods and anchors countless businesses across the island. When tourism thrives, Barbados thrives. And when tourism is threatened, our national prosperity is at stake.”

Opposition to $10 Car Rental Levy

A major point of concern is the government’s proposed $10-a-day environmental levy on car rentals, scheduled to take effect October 1. While stressing the industry’s full support for environmental sustainability, the BHTA leader warned the levy could backfire.

“At ten dollars a day, this levy threatens to price visitors out of rentals and risks fuelling the underground market of unlicensed operators,” he said. “We have tabled solutions—replace the daily charge with a single flat fee per contract, reduce it to five dollars a day, or exempt long-stay visitors. These are practical, balanced alternatives that meet environmental goals without damaging our competitiveness.”

Outdated Licensing System

The chairman also called for a complete overhaul of the island’s tourism licensing process, which he described as “fragmented, slow and inefficient.” Currently, hotels, restaurants and other operators must renew licenses at fixed periods each year, often resulting in bottlenecks and lost business time.

“We cannot build a world-class tourism industry on the back of a 20th century licensing system,” he said. “Licensing is essential, but the way it is managed must be effective for both regulators and operators.”

He outlined specific reforms, including:

• Licenses valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

• A fully upgraded digital one-stop portal for applications and payments.

• Risk-based inspections scheduled year-round.

• Electronic certificates with QR-code verification.

“These changes will eliminate bottlenecks, save operators time and give investors greater confidence,” he said, urging government to pilot the system with small guesthouses and restaurants.