Barbados’ tourism industry is currently hitting historic highs, but deep-seated disengagement among private sector stakeholders puts its long-term prosperity at severe risk, according to newly elected Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Chair Kelly-Ann Payne. In her first address after winning the leadership post at the association’s annual general meeting, the veteran hospitality executive did not hold back in sounding the alarm over a growing culture of apathy that is eroding the industry’s institutional foundation.