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DESTINATION BARBADOS ON DISPLAY IN BRAZIL

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) returned from Brazil following its successful participation at World Travel Market (WTM) Latin America and a media tour in which members of the BTMI showcased the Caribbean destination to Brazilian media, travel professionals and consumers, accompanied by a delegation of the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport.

The delegation present at WTM included the Minister of Tourism and International Transport, the Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Francine Blackman; Chairwoman of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Shelly Williams; Director of Latin America, the Caribbean and Sports of the BTMI, Corey Garrett; Ambassador of Barbados to Brazil, Tonika Sealy-Thompson, Executive Director Intimate Hotels of Barbados, Davina Layne; and Cruise Senior Business Development Officer at BTMI, Tia Broomes.

The tour kicked-off with an intimate event celebration at Fasano Hotel in Sao Paulo, where a select group of media, influencers and trade contacts were invited to discover the best of the destination through cocktail offerings, music and art.

“Barbados and Brazil have a more than 500-year long history of connection, despite the fact that the Barbados-Brazil trade relationship is still largely underexplored given the size of the opportunity and we share significant cultural ties, not only due to proximity, but among the core elements of our shared experiences are sports, cuisine, festivals, beaches and luxury. Our historical connections and cultural similarities also allow many opportunities for collaboration between the two in the areas of sports, higher education, language-learning, and business.” said the Minister of Tourism and International Transport of Barbados, the Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill during the evening event.

Latin America continues to be an extremely important market for Barbados, and Brazil, one of the major consumer markets from the region. During this year’s WTM and following a successful participation in 2022, Barbados presented its unique destination offerings to Brazilian travel specialists and consumers, showcasing tourist hotspot ‘Rihanna Drive’ in their booth design. The destination brought together the elements that Rihanna herself holds most dear creating an experience that is trending, authentic and showcases the essence of the island. The concept has been incorporated into different events throughout LATAM and will continue its presence at local events taking place over the next year.

Cultural event

The cultural evening event at Fasano brought local mixologists, Shane Mclean and Phillip “Casanova” Antoine to showcase the flavors of the birthplace of rum, crafting a selection of rum cocktails representative of the destination. The event also featured a musical performance by local singer Ashleigh Phillips, accompanied by an art display created by contemporary multidisciplinary Barbadian artist Sheena Rose. The evening concluded with a prize giveaway, in which a lucky winner was awarded a week-long, all expenses paid trip to Barbados.

Deeper relationship with Latin America

Barbados will further deepen the relationship with the Latin American market through the opening of a new office in Panama City. The Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill, announced that this will aid Barbados in continuing to strengthen the relationship and marketing efforts in the region and further demonstrate the confidence in this market for the growth of the tourism industry.

With the return of the Copa Airlines flight connecting Barbados to LATAM countries, the destination has facilitated the arrivals of thousands of travelers, including those looking to enjoy the destination under Barbados’ 12-month welcome-stamp visa.

Latin America is poised to be an important market for the growth of the tourism industry and trade relations with different partners in the region. Barbados has continued to see an increase in arrivals from Brazilian and Latin American travelers and is looking to continue its growth by welcoming more visitors through direct services via Copa Airlines.

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SISTER RELATIONSHIP CONTINUES BETWEEN CHINA & BARBADOS

Hunan and Bridgetown forged a sister relationship in 2023. China and Barbados have also deepened cooperation in agriculture, especially rice and vegetable cultivation.

Central #China‘s Hunan Province, located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, boasts a rich history and diverse natural landscapes. With renowned destinations like Zhangjaijie National Forest Park and Fenghuang Ancient Town, Hunan is a popular choice for international tourists exploring China.

Don’t forget to try some authentic Xiang cuisine, famous for its hot and spicy flavors and fresh aroma!

Bridgetown, capital city of #Barbados, serves as the country’s political, economic and cultural center. The Port of Bridgetown is an important seaport for international trade in the region. Tourism, offshore finance and light manufacturing are some major industries there, while flying fish is a beloved local delicacy and a symbol of Barbadian cuisine.

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Streamlined Process For Vehicle Registration In Barbados

The Barbados Revenue Authority (the Authority), the Barbados Licensing Authority, general insurance companies, and the Barbados Police Service have collaborated to enhance the vehicle registration system for private vehicles.

This initiative represents a significant step toward improving efficiency, convenience, and compliance for vehicle owners and law enforcement.

Under the new system, owners of private vehicles seeking to renew their vehicle registrations will no longer need to visit the Authority’s payment centres to update and receive the registration disc. Instead, private vehicle registrations will now be completed online, streamlining the process for thousands of motorists across Barbados. Vehicle owners are encouraged to register and familiarise themselves with the digital platform, accessible at https://portal.bra.gov.bb.

Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Straughn, noted: “This collaborative effort represents a major step in modernising the way we serve Barbadians. By digitising this aspect of the private vehicle registration process, we are not only improving convenience for the public but also strengthening the integrity of our registration and insurance systems while working to reduce the lines in our offices.”

When vehicle owners renew their insurance, the policy details from the general insurance companies will be used to update the owner’s vehicle registration records in the licensing system. This initiative ensures that vehicle registration records within the licensing system are current and compliant with the requirements of Section 5(4) of the Road Traffic Act, which mandates annual vehicle registration.

By integrating insurance compliance into the registration process, vehicle owners will be able to download their Digital Vehicle Registration Card upon successful upload of their insurance details.

Carolyn Williams-Gayle, Senior Manager, Headquarters Services at the Authority highlighted that the information discrepancies will prevent the generation of a Vehicle Registration Card.

“As with any digital transformation, accuracy of records is essential. During the testing of the system, we identified four issues which will prevent the registration card from being generated. Issues may arise due to data entry errors such as incorrect license plate, chassis, engine or VIN numbers; missing information; mismatched records or lapsed insurance policies.

“To assist vehicle owners, we designed the system to provide real-time error notifications when an issue is detected. These messages will specify the nature of the discrepancy and direct users to the appropriate avenue for the issue to be rectified,” she shared.

“Currently, 75 per cent of the general insurance companies which serve Barbados have uploaded their data to facilitate the generation of the Vehicle Registration Card and we thank the insurance companies for their participation in this process. However, where insurance details have not been uploaded, the registrant will still need to visit their insurance company and the Authority’s offices in person to access their Vehicle Registration Card.”

The Authority’s Contact Centre is available at 429-ETAX (3829) to answer any questions that citizens may have. As part of the ongoing digital transformation, the team expanded the scope of the project to allow the Barbados Police Service to digitally verify the validity of vehicle registrations. The adoption of these digital solutions seeks to make the roads safer and compliance easier for all citizens. (PR/GIS)

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Palestinian Ambassador Calls on Minister of Agriculture

Ambassador of the State of Palestine, Dr. Linda Sobeh-Ali, recently paid a visit to Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Indar Weir, at the Ministry’s headquarters, Graeme Hall, Christ Church.

In attendance were Permanent Secretary Terry Bascombe; Chief Agricultural Officer, Michael James; and Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer Barney Callender.

The meeting focused on sustainable agricultural practices, food security, and the potential for international collaboration to bolster Barbados’ farming sector.

Both the Ambassador and local representatives underscored the importance of support for sustainable agriculture. They discussed the growing role of advanced technologies – like hydroponics and greenhouses – to overcome the island’s limited soil and resource challenges. Adapting these innovations to Barbados’ specific environment was highlighted as essential.

Other areas touched on include poultry production and the link between food availability and national security.

Ambassador Sobeh-Ali expressed concerns about potential threats to the poultry supply chain, emphasising the need to strengthen resilience through modern farming methods and government-backed initiatives.