Carib Scope

分类： business

  • Sixteen new certified tour guides graduate in Kalinago Territory under UNDP-supported programme

    Sixteen new certified tour guides graduate in Kalinago Territory under UNDP-supported programme

    Sixteen Kalinago Territory community members have officially become certified professional tour guides, marking a major milestone in efforts to grow inclusive, community-led indigenous tourism and expand local economic opportunity across the region.

    The graduating cohort, made up of 10 women and six men, completed a rigorous, months-long training initiative before receiving their certification during a formal ceremony hosted at Barana Autê. The event drew a cross-section of attendees, including senior Dominican government officials, Kalinago community leadership, representatives from international development partners, local institutional stakeholders, and family members of the graduates, who gathered to honor the participants’ hard work and reaffirm shared commitments to sustainable, community-centered tourism development in the territory.

    Among the distinguished guests in attendance were Cozier Frederick, Dominica’s Minister for Environment, Rural Modernisation, Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment; Annette Sanford, Chief of the Kalinago people; Duane Silverstein, Executive Director of conservation non-profit SeaCology; delegates from Dominica State College; members of the Kalinago Council; UNDP representatives; and other invited stakeholders.

    The training programme was organized through a collaborative partnership between the Kalinago Council, Dominica State College, and the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association. Joint funding for the initiative was provided by the Strengthening Community Resilience in the Kalinago Territory (SCR-K) Project and SeaCology. The SCR-K Project itself is financed by the Government of India and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in coordination with the Government of Dominica through the Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernisation, Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment. The broader initiative works alongside the Kalinago Council and other local and national partners to build resilient local livelihoods through a range of focus areas: climate-smart agriculture, sustainable forest management, eco-indigenous tourism, and community capacity building.

    UNDP officials note that the tour guide training perfectly embodies the collaborative, community-centered approach at the core of the SCR-K Project. The Kalinago Council had already prioritized tour guide capacity building as a key step to grow tourism within the territory, and the initiative aligns directly with one of the SCR-K Project’s core objectives: expanding access to training for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and tourism stakeholders in the eco-indigenous tourism sector. By aligning with the council’s existing priorities and partnering with local and organizational stakeholders, the project avoided redundant efforts and maximized long-term development impact for the community.

    Run from February 21 to April 4, 2026, the curriculum blended structured classroom instruction with hands-on fieldwork and practical exercises to equip participants with the full range of knowledge and skills needed to deliver authentic, high-quality visitor experiences. Instruction was led by faculty from Dominica State College, with additional technical support provided by the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association. The curriculum covered a diverse set of core competencies: tourism industry fundamentals, Kalinago Territory history, cultural and heritage interpretation for Kalinago traditions, local flora and fauna identification, birdwatching and natural heritage interpretation, customer service, professional ethics, emergency first aid, and practical on-the-ground tour management techniques. To earn their certification, graduates were required to pass both comprehensive written examinations and hands-on practical assessments.

    Addressing the gathering of graduates and guests, Minister Cozier Frederick emphasized that the training represents far more than just learning tour leadership skills. “Guide training is far more than learning how to lead a tour. It is about becoming ambassadors of our people, our culture, and our environment. Through proper training, we preserve and share our history with accuracy and pride. We provide visitors with meaningful and memorable experiences that reflect the true identity of our community. We also develop the knowledge and skills to ensure the safety and well-being of those in our care. Guide training creates valuable employment opportunities and strengthens our tourism industry by promoting professionalism and excellence. Most importantly, it inspires us to protect our natural environment and cultural heritage so that future generations can continue to benefit from them,” Frederick said.

    Kalinago Chief Annette Sanford also commended the graduates for their dedication throughout the programme, and reminded them of their unique responsibility to share the authentic history and identity of the Kalinago people with the world. “As tour guides, you now hold a very special responsibility. You have the privilege of telling the Kalinago story the way it deserves to be told. For many years, textbooks and outside narratives have misrepresented who we are. We have often said that these stories need correcting. Well, we are part of that correction. Every visitor we guide gives you an opportunity to tell the truth. Tell them our story with confidence. Tell it with pride. Tell it with authenticity,” Sanford stated.

    Speaking on behalf of UNDP, Project Analyst Sawana Fabien noted that the graduation ceremony marks far more than the successful completion of a single training course. “Today is a celebration of commitment, perseverance, and your willingness to invest in yourselves, your families, and your community. When the Kalinago Council identified this training as one of its priorities, the SCR-K Project responded because we believe development should be driven by the aspirations of communities themselves – not by what a project thinks a community needs. That is the essence of partnership, and I believe the relationship between UNDP, the Government of Dominica, the Kalinago Council, and our implementing partners is one that should be celebrated. Our commitment does not end today. We remain committed to working alongside the Kalinago people, listening to your priorities, strengthening local capacity, and building partnerships that create opportunities for today and for future generations,” Fabien said. She added that the SCR-K Project centers its work on building community resilience by investing in people, local institutions, and collaborative partnerships, so communities have the skills, confidence, and access to opportunity needed to lead their own sustainable development trajectories.

    SeaCology Executive Director Duane Silverstein also reaffirmed his organization’s longstanding commitment to supporting conservation and community-led development initiatives that protect the Kalinago Territory’s one-of-a-kind natural and cultural heritage.

    Looking ahead, the newly certified guides are expected to play a transformative role in advancing the Kalinago Territory’s long-term vision for indigenous tourism, while opening new pathways for local employment, community entrepreneurship, and grassroots leadership. As Dominica prepares for a projected increase in international visitor arrivals, driven in part by the expansion of the country’s tourism infrastructure including the opening of a new international airport, the training programme ensures the Kalinago Territory is well-positioned to welcome guests with authentic, high-quality cultural and nature-based tourism experiences.

    Beyond equipping individual participants with marketable professional skills, the initiative is also expected to strengthen the Kalinago community’s ability to manage tourism growth sustainably, safeguard irreplaceable cultural heritage, and ensure that the full economic benefits of tourism development remain within the local territory. UNDP confirms that the SCR-K Project will continue its work alongside the Kalinago Council and its partner organizations to support additional initiatives that build resilient local livelihoods, empower indigenous communities, and preserve the Kalinago Territory’s distinctive cultural and environmental heritage for future generations.

  • Central Bank Unveils New National Symbols Coin Series

    Central Bank Unveils New National Symbols Coin Series

    In a formal announcement made on July 1, 2026, the Central Bank of Belize has introduced its brand-new National Symbols Coin Series, a redesigned collection of circulation coins set to enter general use across the country this coming September. The new line of coins, produced by Canada’s state-owned Royal Canadian Mint, is crafted to highlight and celebrate Belize’s unique sovereign and cultural identity, tying directly to the nation’s heritage.

    Each denomination in the series carries a distinct design tied to national identity: the one-dollar coin bears a detailed outline map of Belize, while all lower denominations feature different official national symbols of the country. This new coin series acts as a complementary addition to the National Heroes banknote series that the central bank launched into circulation in 2025, completing a multi-year modernization of Belize’s national currency.

    Crucially, the central bank has clarified that the new coins will not immediately replace existing circulation pieces that bear the portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Those older coins will retain their status as legal tender indefinitely, and the public faces no requirement to exchange or deposit their current holdings. The older coins will be gradually removed from circulation through natural attrition over the coming years as the new series becomes more widespread.

    While the new coins retain the exact same physical dimensions as their existing counterparts to ensure compatibility with existing vending machines and cash handling infrastructure, they incorporate multiple functional and design updates. The base materials have been switched from the previous composition to nickel-plated and bronze-plated steel, a change that boosts overall coin durability for longer circulation life and cuts down on manufacturing costs for the central bank. Design-specific updates include a unique ten-sided edge on the one-cent coin, and a distinct bronze finish for the one-dollar denomination to help with quick identification by users.

    To mark the official launch of the new circulation series, the Central Bank of Belize will also release a limited-run collector’s coin: a specially painted fifty-cent piece featuring the national Mahogany Tree, Belize’s national tree. This commemorative collectible will be sold exclusively as a numismatic item for coin collectors and will not be released into general public circulation.

  • Belize Signs Modifications to US$125M U.S.-Funded Compact

    Belize Signs Modifications to US$125M U.S.-Funded Compact

    On July 1, 2026, Belizean government officials formalized key amendments to a landmark $125 million grant compact with the United States’ Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a major U.S. foreign assistance agency, in a signing ceremony attended by Prime Minister John Briceño and senior diplomatic representatives from both nations. The revised agreement, one of the largest grant-based development investments in Belize’s modern history, reallocates $20 million originally earmarked for education to the compact’s energy sector initiative, following a comprehensive review of foreign assistance priorities by the U.S. government. The document was officially signed by Carlos Pol, Chief Executive Officer of Belize’s Ministry of Economic Transformation, on behalf of the Belizean government.

    The redirected funding will directly address unanticipated surges in energy demand driven by Belize’s faster-than-projected economic expansion over the past four years. According to Prime Minister Briceño, the country’s current energy consumption has already hit levels forecasters did not expect to see until 2028 or 2029, a shift he described as a “victory of our own success” that required urgent adjustments to the original compact’s funding allocations. The additional capital will support critical upgrades to Belize’s national electricity grid, highlighted by the construction of a new 69-kilovolt submarine transmission cable connecting the mainland to Ambergris Caye, a popular tourist and residential hub whose growing population has strained existing energy infrastructure.

    Beyond physical infrastructure improvements, the expanded Energy Project will also back targeted policy and regulatory reforms to modernize Belize’s energy governance, including structural updates to the national Belize Energy Act. Briceño noted that the upgraded investment will not only strengthen the reliability of the country’s power supply but also advance the government’s core goal of reducing overall energy costs for consumers and businesses. The Belizean government is already pursuing parallel renewable energy development—including utility-scale battery storage and solar energy projects—with financial backing from the World Bank, and the additional MCC funding will complement these ongoing efforts.

    Despite the $20 million reallocation, the compact’s remaining education investment will retain its original core mandates: improving access and quality at the secondary education level, expanding technical and vocational training programs aligned with labor market needs, and boosting overall workforce readiness to support long-term economic competitiveness. To offset the funding shift, the Government of Belize has committed to increasing its own domestic contributions to both the energy and education initiatives, including sustaining public funding for digital learning devices for secondary school students across the country.

    Briceño emphasized that education and energy have remained Belize’s top two development priorities since compact negotiations first launched with the MCC in late 2021, and years of cross-stakeholder consultations have shaped the revised agreement to reflect on-the-ground changes in the country’s economic context. The amended compact is scheduled to enter into force later in 2026, with the overarching goal of advancing both human capital development through education and more affordable, reliable energy to support inclusive, long-term economic growth across Belize.

  • Regional Banks Remain Well Capitalized Despite Global Uncertainty

    Regional Banks Remain Well Capitalized Despite Global Uncertainty

    Across global financial markets, ongoing volatility and geopolitical disruptions have cast a shadow of uncertainty over nearly every segment of the banking sector in recent months. Market analysts and regulators have closely monitored smaller regional players, which are often seen as more vulnerable to external shocks than their large systemically important multinational competitors. Despite these widespread concerns, multiple recent industry assessments and regulatory stress tests confirm that regional banks have maintained robust capital positions that meet and in many cases exceed regulatory requirements.

    Capital adequacy is a core metric that measures a bank’s ability to absorb unexpected losses, and strong capital buffers are widely recognized as the first line of defense against market downturns. Over the past several years, following the lessons of previous banking crises, most regional institutions have proactively built up their capital reserves, adjusted their lending portfolios to reduce risk exposure, and strengthened their liquidity management practices. These preparatory measures have positioned them well to navigate the current period of global uncertainty, which includes rising interest rate volatility, inflationary pressures, and shifting cross-border capital flows.

    Industry leaders note that while regional banks may face headwinds from slowing local lending demand and increased funding costs in some markets, their strong capitalization means they do not face systemic solvency risks. Regulators across major economies have also echoed this assessment, pointing out that the banking system as a whole is far more resilient than it was in previous periods of global stress. Investors and consumers can take confidence from the fact that regional banks, which play a critical role in supporting local small businesses, consumer lending, and community economic development, remain on solid financial footing.

  • Dominican government invests RD$194 million in Avocado Agroecological Park

    Dominican government invests RD$194 million in Avocado Agroecological Park

    The Dominican government has officially launched construction of a landmark agroecological development project, the “Saving the Mountains” Avocado Agroecological Park, located in the southern province of San Cristóbal. Funded by the Special Fund for Agricultural Development (FEDA), the initiative carries a total investment of nearly 194 million Dominican pesos, marking one of the country’s most significant recent investments in integrated sustainable agriculture and tourism.

    Championed by incumbent President Luis Abinader, the project leverages the Dominican Republic’s standing as the world’s second-largest avocado producer, a position that has long formed a core pillar of the nation’s agricultural export economy. Unlike traditional single-purpose agricultural sites, this new park is designed as a multifaceted hub that brings three distinct goals together: commercial avocado production, targeted environmental conservation, and expanding regional agritourism offerings.

    Project planners expect the development to strengthen every link in the country’s avocado value chain, from on-farm production and research to processing and distribution. It will also create dedicated space for advancing agricultural research focused on climate-resilient avocado farming and agroecological practices. For the local tourism sector, the park is projected to draw both domestic and international eco-conscious visitors, helping to reposition San Cristóbal as a top destination for sustainable travel in the Caribbean. Ultimately, the initiative’s core mission is to stimulate inclusive local economic growth and set a regional benchmark for balanced, long-term sustainable development that benefits both local communities and the natural environment.

  • Dominican Republic tourism continues record growth with 6.6 million visitors

    Dominican Republic tourism continues record growth with 6.6 million visitors

    Santo Domingo – The Dominican Republic has cemented its status as one of the Caribbean’s most dynamic travel hotspots after announcing a historic milestone in first-half 2026 tourism, with total visitor arrivals hitting an all-time record of more than 6.6 million people, according to Tourism Minister David Collado.

    In his regular monthly update on the sector’s performance, Collado confirmed that the 6,616,671 total visitors recorded between January and June this year represents a 7.7% jump compared to the same period in 2025, and an even more substantial 11% increase over 2024’s first half. The robust growth trajectory reinforces the nation’s standing as the Caribbean’s fastest-growing major travel destinations. If current demand trends hold steady through the second half of the year, official projections put total 2026 visitor arrivals at more than 12 million, which would mark another all-time annual record for the country’s tourism industry.

    Breaking down the half-year figures, the record total includes 4,963,542 visitors arriving via commercial air travel and 1,653,129 cruise ship passengers, showing that both air and maritime tourism segments are posting simultaneous, strong growth.

    Looking at the single-month performance for June 2026, the nation welcomed 975,012 total visitors, with 816,511 air arrivals and 158,495 cruise guests – both segments registered year-over-year increases, confirming consistent growth across the first half of the year.

    The United States continues to hold its position as the Dominican Republic’s largest source market for international tourism, accounting for 53% of all visitors arriving in June. Following the U.S. are regional and long-haul markets: Colombia makes up 8% of June visitors, Canada contributes 7%, Puerto Rico and Argentina each account for 5%, the United Kingdom and Chile each hold 3%, and Mexico rounds out the top source markets with 2% of arrivals.

    On the infrastructure side, Punta Cana International Airport – the country’s primary gateway for international leisure travelers – handled 53% of all international arrivals in June. Las Américas International Airport followed with 28% of arrivals, Cibao International Airport contributed 12%, and the remaining share was split between smaller regional airports in Puerto Plata, El Higüero, La Romana, and Samaná.

    Beyond just raw visitor volume, Collado emphasized that the sector is also delivering strong quality performance and high visitor satisfaction. Average hotel occupancy across the country hit 71% for the first six months of 2026, and the average visitor experience rating came in at 4.4 out of 5 points. Ministry of Tourism data shows that 92% of recent travelers stated they would plan a return trip to the Dominican Republic, and 60% said they would actively recommend the destination to friends, family, and other travelers – figures that reflect widespread satisfaction with the country’s tourism offerings.

  • Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham reopens 200 rooms after Bayahibe fire

    Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham reopens 200 rooms after Bayahibe fire

    Just 14 days after a destructive fire ripped through a portion of the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic, 200 guest rooms are once again welcoming visitors, the nation’s top tourism official has confirmed.

    Tourism Minister David Collado shared that the property has launched a staged restoration roadmap, with a target to bring nearly all of its accommodation back online within two months. This accelerated timeline positions the resort to fully restart operations ahead of one of the Dominican Republic’s peak tourism seasons, when visitor volumes and revenue traditionally surge.

    The fire broke out at the Bayahibe resort on June 19, triggering an urgent evacuation of roughly 1,690 registered guests. Emergency crews confirmed one fatality: a 46-year-old Italian tourist. Several additional guests and staff members received on-site medical care from first responders, and official investigations into the root cause of the blaze remain ongoing.

    Collado commended the seamless collaborative response from resort staff, local emergency services, and national government agencies in the wake of the incident. He highlighted that coordinated action enabled the safe evacuation of thousands of guests and employees, while all visitors displaced by the fire were quickly relocated to alternative lodging at nearby properties.

    According to the minister, the Ministry of Tourism and the Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores) have actively backed the resort’s recovery process. Teams have worked closely with the country’s global tourism promotion offices to keep key international travel markets updated on the situation, avoiding widespread uncertainty for prospective visitors.

    Collado added that cross-sector collaboration between the Dominican government and private tourism industry has also extended to supporting impacted guests, covering compensation for personal disruption and replacing valuables and belongings lost in the fire.

    Despite the tragic incident, Collado emphasized that tourism operations across Bayahibe and surrounding popular destinations have not been disrupted. The adjacent Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, which sits on the same resort complex, sustained no damage from the fire and remained open to guests throughout the entire emergency response and recovery effort.

  • Dominican Republic raises tax on electronic transfers and checks to 0.20% this Friday

    Dominican Republic raises tax on electronic transfers and checks to 0.20% this Friday

    Starting Friday, July 3, the Dominican Republic will enact an adjusted financial transaction tax, raising the rate on check issuance and select electronic transfers from 0.15% to 0.20% as outlined in the newly enacted Law 30-26. This policy forms a core component of a sweeping national fiscal reform package designed to boost state revenue, against a backdrop of ongoing global economic volatility.

    Under the new regulatory framework, Dominican financial institutions will automatically apply the updated tax rate to a broad range of transactions. These include the issuance and clearance of personal and business checks, electronic transfers routed to third-party bank accounts, loan and credit card payments made to accounts held by other individuals, transfers into joint accounts that involve external third-party stakeholders, and third-party cash withdrawals completed via ATM access codes.

    Despite the broad scope of the tax increase, a number of critical transaction categories have been granted full exemption. Transfers between separate accounts held by a single individual or entity remain untaxed, as do cash withdrawals completed by the original account holder. Payments made to national government agencies, contributions to social security systems and pension funds, and international transfers also fall outside the tax mandate. Additionally, transfers to brokerage accounts owned by the same individual or entity are exempt, as long as applicants submit valid documentation verifying shared account ownership.

    Law 30-26, officially titled the Law on Measures for Economic Growth, Tax Simplification and Mitigation of the International Crisis, counts this adjusted transaction tax among its most impactful revenue-generating provisions. Dominican government projections estimate the policy will deliver between 40 billion and 50 billion Dominican pesos in incremental annual tax revenue, a windfall policymakers say will be used to shore up the nation’s public finances and buffer against global economic headwinds.

    However, the new tax has not garnered universal support. Leading national business associations have raised pointed concerns about the policy’s broader economic impacts. Critics warn the higher rate will drive up banking costs for both ordinary consumers and private enterprises, creating a disincentive that could push more economic activity into the informal sector, undermining years of progress toward expanded financial formalization across key industries.

  • Abinader promotes Dominican Republic as trusted investment hub at AIF 2026

    Abinader promotes Dominican Republic as trusted investment hub at AIF 2026

    SANTO DOMINGO — On Wednesday, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader officially opened the 2026 Americas Investment Forum (AIF), using the high-profile opening ceremony to frame the Caribbean nation as a stable, trustworthy destination for international foreign direct investment. Speaking to an assembly of over 2,000 delegates representing 52 nations gathered for the three-day event, Abinader centered his opening address on the Dominican Republic’s core competitive advantages: consistent macroeconomic stability, binding legal certainty, robust institutional frameworks, uncompromising regulatory transparency, and clearly defined operating rules for foreign businesses.

    Abinader emphasized that reciprocal trust between governments and investors is the non-negotiable foundation of sustained long-term economic growth. He used his platform to challenge the entire Americas region to rebrand itself not as a zone of untapped potential, but as a global hub that delivers tangible, measurable results for international business partners.

    To back his claims, the Dominican president pointed to the nation’s recent record-breaking economic performance metrics, which include more than $5 billion in total foreign direct investment inflows recorded in 2025, an annual tourism footprint of over 11 million international visitors, and more than 200,000 formal jobs created by the country’s network of free trade zones. Abinader stressed that these headline figures do more than boost national economic statistics — they translate directly to expanded employment opportunities, accelerated domestic innovation, and broad-based improved livelihoods for Dominican people.

    He also noted that the global shift toward nearshoring and corporate efforts to build more resilient, diversified supply chains have opened a once-in-a-generation economic opportunity for the Americas region, reaffirming the Dominican Republic’s commitment to acting as a strategic, reliable partner for global investors looking to expand their regional footprint.

    Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, the Dominican Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, used his remarks during the opening ceremony to highlight the sweeping improvements the country has made to its investment climate in recent years, as well as its expanding role in global exports, cross-border innovation, and advanced manufacturing. Meanwhile, Biviana Riveiro Disla, Executive Director of ProDominicana, the country’s national investment and export promotion agency, outlined the forum’s core strategic goals: to deepen existing investment ties with partners in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, while accelerating the development of high-quality, environmentally and socially sustainable investment projects across the Dominican Republic.

    Running through July 3 in the capital city of Santo Domingo, the 2026 Americas Investment Forum brings together sitting government leaders, global institutional investors, and C-suite business executives from across the Western Hemisphere and beyond. Attendees will engage in three days of discussions focused on expanding cross-border investment, growing interregional trade, and scaling innovative business development across the Americas.

  • Hotel stalwart Dennis Tull to sell Golden Sands

    Hotel stalwart Dennis Tull to sell Golden Sands

    After more than 40 years shaping Barbados’ local small hotel sector, iconic indigenous hotel owner Dennis Tull is preparing to step away from the industry, with exclusive reports from Barbados TODAY confirming plans to sell his flagship property, the Golden Sands Hotel.

    Turning 90 this August, Tull has entered early-stage negotiations with a prospective buyer for the well-established Christ Church venue, located along Maxwell Coast Road. An anonymous close source confirmed that while no deal has been finalized, the long-term plan remains clear: Tull intends to sell the property and formally retire from hospitality.

    Tull’s upcoming exit closes out a trailblazing career that began in an unlikely fashion back in 1985. At the time, Tull was operating a successful minibus business when he acquired the Golden Sands property, growing the venue over decades into one of the south coast of Barbados’ most recognizable independent hospitality fixtures.

    Beyond his own hotel operation, Tull leaves an enduring legacy as a fierce advocate for locally owned small hospitality businesses. Most notably, he was the founding chairman of Intimate Hotels of Barbados (IHB), a non-profit umbrella organization launched in 2000 to support the island’s small, independently owned boutique hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas. The organization was created to deliver critical marketing and operational support that smaller properties could not access on their own.

    Renee Coppin, a fellow hotelier and former IHB chairman who collaborated with Tull in the group’s early years, has praised Tull’s work to level the playing field between small indigenous properties and large luxury resort developments.

    Coppin described Tull as deeply passionate about both the tourism sector and small local businesses, noting that building up the IHB was a point of immense personal pride for him. “He really had a belief in what he was doing and stood by his convictions in terms of the secretariat. Some pioneering things he did like setting up the marketing fund and working with the government to set up that fund,” Coppin told Barbados TODAY.

    Long before collective action for small hoteliers became common, Tull recognized that smaller local properties were not receiving the same marketing exposure and institutional support as the large high-end developments that dominated Barbados’ luxury tourism brand. Coppin confirmed Tull was unafraid to speak up loudly to demand equal treatment for small operators.

    His advocacy delivered tangible, systemic change for Barbados’ hospitality sector during the Owen Arthur administration. At the time, government tax and development incentives were almost exclusively reserved for large, international resort operators. Tull successfully lobbied for dedicated concessions for small hotels and villa properties, pushing the government to introduce targeted grants for marketing, bulk purchasing, and operational coordination, including funding for a permanent IHB secretariat to serve small properties.

    These efforts ultimately paved the way for the creation of the Small Hotels Investment Fund, which offered concessionary, low-interest financing for small properties to complete renovations and competitive upgrades. Tull served on the fund’s management committee from its launch, through its administration by Enterprise Growth Fund Limited.

    Tull’s push for systemic support grew from his own on-the-ground experience as a small hotel owner. He understood firsthand the steep financial barriers that small independent properties faced, when it came to funding upgrades and remaining competitive against larger, better-capitalized resorts. Without targeted support, he warned, many small local venues would be forced out of the market, eroding the diversity of accommodation options that Barbados could offer to international visitors. Today, his work continues to benefit generations of small hoteliers across the island.