Efforts to develop a Tourism White Paper will make new strides this week, when the Ministry of Tourism hosts its Let’s Talk Tourism – Youth Speak Out this Friday, February 4, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre starting at 9:00 a.m.

The event, which is aimed at bringing the views of the youth on tourism to the fore, comes on the heels of the Ministry’s recently held town hall meetings.

Chief Research Officer in the Ministry of Tourism, Gale Yearwood, has explained that they "are seeking to embrace feasible ideas from the youth of Barbados in formulating the White Paper.

"We definitely want to hear from the youth, given that they are the future of our industry. Some of the [persons] who came out to the town hall meetings said that we need to start by looking at the youth.?? So, I think that we are taking steps in the right direction," she commented; while adding that there were plans afoot to have additional consultations with other tourism stakeholders and tourists.

"We would like to have a consultation with our visitors, especially the repeat ones, persons who come back to Barbados every year.?? We want to know what is it that makes them come back, what has changed over the past 20 to 30 years, what are their ideas, and how do they view the product," the Chief Research Officer remarked.????????

The Youth Speak Out forum will feature chosen representatives from secondary and tertiary schools across the island. However, persons between the ages of 16 and 25, who are not affiliated to a learning institution, may also attend and participate.??

To register for the Youth Speak Out, interested persons should e-mail Rene Taitt at taittr@tourism.gov.bb, Sherry Waithe at waithes@tourism.gov.bb?? or call the Ministry of Tourism at 430-7500.

nekaelia.hutchinson@barbados.gov.bb

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