Prime Minister Stuart shaking hands with Vincent Prager who has visited Barbados 60 times while Roberto Menegati, who has visited the island 40 times, looks on. (C.Pitt/BGIS)
Government is continuing its efforts to make sure Barbados is safe, comfortable and congenial.
This assurance came from Prime Minister Freundel Stuart last evening, as he hosted the first of four monthly Repeat Visitors’ Reception for 2018 at Ilaro Court.
Mr. Stuart told his appreciative audience: “In ensuring that we create the kind of environment which induces you to continue to visit Barbados, we take the position that we have to make Barbados a congenial and comfortable place for the people who live here first. And we have to do that because if you come to this country and our citizens are unhappy, then the warmth and hospitality which you would expect to have extended to you would not be extended….
“We try as far as possible to make Barbados a safe place so that you can go about your daily peregrinations, and moving around, feeling comfortable that you do not have to fear molestation or assault of any kind.”
The Prime Minister thanked the visitors for continuing to place confidence in the country and regularly visiting it, saying they could have easily opted to visit another destination.
He pointed out that Barbados depended very heavily on the tourism and international business and financial services sectors. “Tourism is the lead sector in our economy and therefore it is important to us that we do nothing to undermine or weaken the confidence which you have continually displayed in Barbados over the years,” he stated.
Mr. Stuart stressed that the country offered a range of tourism products and attractions to ensure it remains the preferred choice.
Some of the visitors who were saluted were: Vincent Prager for visiting 60 times; Roberto Menegati who came 40 times; Donna Silberberg who was here 32 times and Nicole Forbes, Margaret Cuddihy, Roger Warren, and Barbara and Wood Lockhart who visited the island more than 30 times.