Barbados, Trinidad explore tourism and aviation cooperation

Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago are exploring the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on tourism and culture as both countries look to strengthen cooperation and advance mutual interests.

The potential agreement emerged from talks held in Barbados last weekend between Barbados Tourism Minister Ian Gooding-Edghill and Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Civil Aviation and Transport Eli Zakour.

According to a government statement, the ministers discussed several issues affecting the region’s travel sector, including regional air connectivity, enhanced training for air traffic controllers, and the high cost of intra-regional travel.

During the discussions, the officials also reviewed the state of the tourism industry in both countries and agreed on the need to strengthen relations. Gooding-Edghill highlighted the potential benefits of deeper collaboration, particularly in sustaining Barbados’ tourism sector.

He noted that the island’s tourism sustainability had resulted in a “wave of investment,” in some instances by Trinidadian investors, including ongoing hotel developments across the south, west and north of Barbados. Projects cited include Hotel Indigo, the Hyatt, the Pierhead Project, Royalton Vessence, Pendry Hotel, Blue Monkey Hotel and Beach Club.

Gooding-Edghill said that a MOU between the two countries should be pursued to “see how best we can advance our interests on both sides”.

The statement said the ministers also held a lengthy discussion on enhanced training for air traffic controllers (ATCs). Gooding-Edghill indicated that Barbados currently faces a training deficit in this area and expressed a desire for ATCs to receive training in Trinidad.

“We would like to advance that as a matter of urgency. We are in discussions with the Ministry of Finance as to the funding for it…and we need to move on this urgently. It is also an opportunity for us to not only train persons but also continue that excellent working relationship that Barbados has always had with the Civil Aviation Training Centre in Trinidad,” he added.

Zakour proposed a MOU specifically focused on training, with details to be finalized shortly in consultation with the Director General of the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority, Carey Price.

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Price said that air traffic controller shortages were not unique to Barbados and that Trinidad and Tobago was prepared to assist.

“They were happy to do anything that we can to accommodate Barbados’ needs for capacity building,” he said.

The two ministers also discussed recruitment of ATCs, ongoing efforts to boost airlift in Trinidad through the signing of air services agreements, the global shortage of pilots, the high cost of intra-regional travel, and the need to generate greater interest among young people in aviation careers.