Government Policy
Tourism provides many benefits for the country such as employment, foreign exchange and revenue. Therefore, governments create policies (plans) to help the industry grow even further.
1. Improving infrastructure requirements
2. Providing a well trained labour force.
3. Addressing environmental concerns
Government takes steps to limit environmental damage. They may:
4 Addressing problems such as crime
Less tourists will come to unsafe destinations. Governments can help by:
5. Providing an overseas marketing and promotional presence in key markets (Tourist Boards/Departments/Bureaus/Ministries of Tourism)
6. Creating a favourable investment climate
Making it easier for companies (both foreign and local) to invest in the country
Summary Points. Choose from the list below those government policies that are helpful to tourism. Copy the final list into your notes.
1. Improving infrastructure requirements
- Infrastructure includes: roads, telecommunications(e.g. telephone service, Internet broadband), airports, seaports. These make it easier to do business.
- Government decides what infrastructure the country needs and how much development they require. They try to secure funding from local and international sources. Sometimes, they develop the infrastructure themselves, or make it easier for companies to provide the services (e.g. Internet service).
2. Providing a well trained labour force.
- Government educates its all citizens. Some will go into tourism. Remember, some jobs will need further, special training. In Barbados, for example, you get free or assistance in education up to tertiary level.
- Secondly, they set up training institutions for tourism workers. E.g. Hospitality Division at B.C.C.; U.W.I.
- Thirdly, through scholarships, you may get training opportunities outside of Barbados.
3. Addressing environmental concerns
Government takes steps to limit environmental damage. They may:
- enact laws to reduce pollution in all forms; to protect reefs/forest reserves,
- provide landfills, sewage plants
- tax people who don't recycle/reuse
- give incentives (e.g. tax break) to companies with environmentally friendly practices
4 Addressing problems such as crime
Less tourists will come to unsafe destinations. Governments can help by:
- providing patrols in areas where tourists congregate e.g. certain beaches or streets.
- setting up security cameras in selected high crime areas
- maintaining a trained police force
- passing laws to protect visitors from crime and harassment.
5. Providing an overseas marketing and promotional presence in key markets (Tourist Boards/Departments/Bureaus/Ministries of Tourism)
- Setting up Tourism offices in key tourism markets (e.g. U.K. USA, Canada)
- Paying to promote and advertise the destination
- Financing tours to promote the country in target markets.
6. Creating a favourable investment climate
Making it easier for companies (both foreign and local) to invest in the country
- Providing political stability.
- A stable economy to encourage investors.
- Stable currency.
- Financial incentives to encourage investment. (Tax Holidays, guaranteed repatriation of profits, paying less on import duties for tourism goods, low interest loans from government development banks)
Summary Points. Choose from the list below those government policies that are helpful to tourism. Copy the final list into your notes.
Supportive Services for Tourism
Here are some organisations that support tourism development.
1. Tourist Boards. Barbados Tourism Authority and Ministries of Tourism, Barbados Hotel Tourism Association
Their role is to develop all aspects of the industry make it more efficient. For example, they help by:
- advertising and promoting the country
- trying to get more cruise lines and airlines coming in
- carrying out research on positive and negative aspects of the industry
Ministry of Tourism
- Determines the overall national tourism policy
- Coordinates the work of government tourism agencies.
Local Hotel Association (e.g. Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association BHTA)
- Talks with government to get concessions and favourable conditions (acts as an interest group)
- Offers guest related services such as staff training to its members
2. Caribbean Tourism Organisation (C.T.O.)
Caribbean Tourism Association (CTA) and Caribbean Tourism Research and Development Centre (CTRC) merged in Jan. 1989 to form C.T.O. It is an international development agency with headquarters in Barbados.
Members:
Caribbean Governments (English, French, Dutch and Spanish speaking) and Private Sector members (air and cruise lines, travel writers etc.- any entity involved in the industry)
Major Functions
Tourism research: analyse research on industry trends.
Training and Education: awareness programmes for school and public; training for tourism workers
Marketing: promote the Caribbean as a region (single destination)
Technical Assistance: help members develop tourism policies and action plans and in any other areas where help is requested.
3. Caribbean Hotel Association
Made up of national hotel associations, it markets the region’s hotels and attractions.
- Promotes environmental sustainability
- Provides hospitality training for its members.