BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Caribbean region has been encouraged to market itself to the United States, Canada and Europe as a Mecca for health and wellness tourism.

Tourism Minister Richard Sealy said since many Caribbean economies rely on tourism as a major foreign exchange earner, it was time for the region to create a new niche for itself.

“I think that it is a necessity for us given that tourism is our main industry, and given our limited resources and the fact that a hardworking and well educated work force is about all we have going for us,” he told regional participants Monday at a Caribbean Export Development Agency three-day seminar.

“My understanding where trade and health tourism is concerned is that there have been several approaches adopted worldwide and governments can get involved in the sector as part of their national policies in many different ways.”

Commenting directly on how Barbados planned to assist investors in health and wellness tourism ventures, Minister Sealy noted that legislative amendments were on the cards.

“There is already enabling legislation (the Tourism Development Act) and all that is required is for the sponsor of the project to prove to the Minister of Tourism that it is a tourism-related project and that there are some concessions available,” Sealy explained.

Executive Director of Caribbean Export Phillip Williams who also addressed the conference, added that the Caribbean was ideally suited to service the North American market given its geographic proximity, direct flights, common language and its sun, sands and sea, which all contribute to the region’s attractiveness as a primary destination for health tourism.

He said the time was ripe for service firms to explore concrete business opportunities and for business support organizations to develop service sector strategies to facilitate two-way trade between Canada and the region.