Empty Cricket World Cup Seats Prompts Call for Sacking of Barbados’ Tourism Minister

The failure of the Cricket World Cup (CWC) in the West Indies to boost tourism in the region has led to calls for one tourism minister to be sacked. The opposition party in Barbados has called for minister of tourism Noel Lynch to be sacked following abysmal tourism figures.

Donville Inniss, Democratic Labor Party (DLP) candidate for St James South, said the minister had failed in his duties regarding the planning for CWC events in Barbados.

“It is somewhat reprehensible and alarming that on the eve of World Cup matches in Barbados, the minister of tourism can now be blaming the ICC (International Cricket Council) for the perceived fears of World Cup 2007,” Inniss said. “This is clearly a reflection of poor management and poor planning on the part of the government and in particular the minister of tourism.”

The poor performance of many cricketing big names including India, Pakistan, and England, has led to a serious drop in visitor arrivals.