Let’s find ways to enhance our tourism industry

Editor: The tourism industry is very important to our country’s development and Vincentians and non-nationals should play their part in ensuring the survival of this industry. I took some time off to visit the hotel in Buccament to see and hear how Vincentians feel about this investment.{{more}}

Some comments I overheard were very frightening and what I saw was discouraging! There are many needed improvements that should be made at the Buccament Bay Hotel, but one of the main issues that caught my attention was that persons are allowed to enter the beach at the hotel.

While all beaches in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) are public, I don’t think they come with absolute privilege. Visitors pay big money to stay at these hotels and should have some level of privilege in the event they decide to use the beaches; but what I’ve noticed is some Vincentians are allowed to go on the beach to play football, cricket, get involved in rude conversations, drink and litter the beach. These sorts of activities should not be allowed to occur on beaches that are in close proximity to hotels offering services with a difference.

It’s time for Vincentians to make some sort of sacrifice if this industry should survive. I’m tired and confused with the attitude of Vincentians when dealing with beaches in SVG. They think because all beaches are public, they can do anything they desire on these beaches and this practice should swiftly be discouraged by the authorities. I’m making an appeal to the Ministry of Tourism and Glen Beache, who is the CEO of the Tourism Authority to find some ways to educate Vincentians on the importance of this tourism product and why we should make certain sacrifices if this industry must survive. This industry is so fragile that we need to do it right at all times; any mistake one makes can have a negative impact on this industry.

Being considerate about access to certain beaches in SVG can be a sacrifice, but it’s a necessary sacrifice that is needed to further the development of our blessed country. Sometimes, when I hear Vincentians, led by Terry Bynoe in Canouan, complain about the lack of access to beaches, it truly upsets me! Why? Simply because one never heard about the beaches before the investors surfaced; it’s such a shame that we are not prepared to make some sort of sacrifice to further our country’s development.

My humble opinion is that the Government should set the necessary infrastructure and we as Vincentians should do our very best cooperate with these investors in the interest of our country’s development. I’m reminding Vincentians that this country’s development depends on all, if this country wants to make it beyond the 21st century.

I’m hoping that my fellow Vincentians will realize the essential role that tourism plays in the growth of our blessed country and come together to find ways to enhance this vital industry.

I gone.

Kingsley DeFreitas