Examine interCaribbean tourism implications

Dear Editor,

I refer to the article published by Kiskadee Watch titled “interCaribbean to fly between Barbados and Ogle daily.” While the introduction of daily flights between Barbados and Ogle Airport may be welcomed as a positive development for regional connectivity, it also raises an important question that deserves public scrutiny: Is Barbados pursuing a quiet strategy to expand its already well-developed tourism sector by positioning itself to siphon off a portion of Guyana’s potential tourist traffic?

Barbados has long established itself as a major Caribbean tourism destination, supported by an internationally recognised tourism brand, established hospitality infrastructure, and decades of experience in attracting visitors. Guyana, by contrast, is seeking to develop its tourism industry, with its unique rainforest ecosystems, abundant wildlife, rivers, waterfalls, and distinctive cultural heritage offering considerable potential for growth.

The introduction of daily air service between Barbados and Ogle could serve legitimate purposes, including facilitating business travel, strengthening regional ties, and making it easier for Guyanese to travel abroad. However, it is also worth examining whether this new connection could enable Barbados to position itself as a gateway through which international visitors access Guyana, while encouraging them to spend a greater portion of their travel budget in Barbados, where tourism infrastructure and services are already well established.

If visitors can conveniently combine Guyana with a stay in Barbados, which destination ultimately captures the greater economic benefit? Will Guyana gain from increased visitor arrivals, hotel occupancy, employment, and spending in local communities, or could a substantial share of the tourism value generated by these travel connections accrue to Barbados?

These are not accusations against Barbados or interCaribbean Airways. Rather, they are legitimate questions about regional competition, tourism development, and the need for Guyana to protect and advance its own economic interests. Improved air connectivity can be mutually beneficial, but the benefits should not be assumed; they must be assessed.

Guyana’s policymakers and tourism authorities should therefore examine the likely implications of this route, including its potential impact on visitor flows, travel packages, airline connections, and the distribution of tourism revenue. They should also consider whether Guyana has a clear strategy to ensure that increased accessibility translates into greater local investment, stronger domestic tourism businesses, and sustainable employment for Guyanese.

As Guyana invests in developing its tourism industry, it must remain alert to the possibility that better-connected regional competitors could benefit disproportionately from the very tourism growth Guyana hopes to achieve.

The central question is simple: Is this daily Barbados–Ogle service merely an expansion of regional connectivity, or could it also form part of a broader commercial strategy that allows Barbados to capture a greater share of the tourism market that Guyana is working to develop?

The travelling public and the relevant authorities deserve a clear, evidence-based answer.