巴巴多斯在covid-19之后的生活
经过Jessica Montevago/
尽管加勒比群岛的Covid-19案件数量往往较少,但其对依赖旅游业的小经济体的影响同样是深刻的。
In Barbados, tourism is a major component of the country’s economy with 40% of its GDP connected to tourism and 30% of its workforce directly employed by it, according to the Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Kerrie D. Symmonds. In the last three weeks, unemployment levels have risen by 25%, he said.
“There’s the inequality that we are powerless in the global supply chain. We cannot make our own medicine and ventilators, and we are in the back of the line to get those essential things. The people in Barbados, and all of the small economies in the Caribbean, are subject to what they call the haunting refrain of inequality,” Symmonds explained.
The island currently has 80 cases, with 39 recoveries and 6 deaths.
“在Covid-19之前,我们正处于奇妙的增长轨迹。我们朝着正确的方向前进,但是这种增长轨迹已经大大脱轨,既影响医疗保健,又从经济角度影响。” Symmonds在周二举行的网络研讨会上对媒体说。
现在,酒店大部分都关闭了,地面运输已经停止,与旅游业有关的公司已经停滞不前,从妈妈和流行音乐到水上运动。
Symmonds表示,在此期间,巴巴多斯将专注于“比以前更大,更好,这意味着建设性地使用停机时间。”
Some hotels will have the opportunity for refurbishment, and smaller properties can use government relief to “put themselves in position for when they can bounce back.” Hotel workers, meanwhile, can begin a process of training, overseen by a special task force for recovery.
Symmonds说:“我们可以在员工方面非常建设性地使用这段时间,以便他们更有效,并且在更高层次上运作,并借此机会建立我们的标准。”在残疾方面,以确保我们可以容纳所有人。”
大流行还将需要新的卫生标准,并确保所有景点和酒店都必须提高这些标准。
他说:“将必须有新的协议 - Covid-19要求我们重新考虑一些我们所做的事情,甚至最基本的事情。”“我们必须找到一种方法来确保我们能够克服不平等和访问套件,但我认为我们必须确保我们的入境港口可以进行这些测试,以便我们确保该岛是covid-19免费的。”
Symmonds表示,他还将关注包括英国和美国在内的主要来源市场,以确定何时可以反弹。重新出现将不得不屈服,但是“国际市场将重新开放,我们必须做好准备。这就是工作队的意义。”
Symmonds predicts one of the first things to come back will be Barbados’ villa market. “It’s a lot of clients flying in on private jets, and not relying on commercial airlines. The airport is still open for that type of traffic.”
即使这些奢侈品客户将受到14天的隔离,Symmonds并不认为它是障碍,因为许多别墅所有者传统上访问了六个星期或更长时间。
“We feel confident that this is the first way in which we will be able to reactivate the industry,” he said, adding that Barbados is on lockdown until May 3, and “once we’re given the all clear, we will begin to reopen the ancillary parts of the sector when it’s safe to do so.” However, he foresees the summer season being a challenge for the industry.
Ultimately, Symmonds said “part of the message that has to go forward is that the global community needs to step up and recognize smaller economies like ours that are tourism dependent. We are resilient, we have dealt with hurricanes, but for things of this nature, we need the global community.”