Editing Economy of Barbados (section)

== Tertiary industries ==

=== Tourism ===
Tourism is Barbados's crucial economic activity and has been since the 1960s. At least 10 per cent of the working population (some 13,000 people) are employed in this sector, which offers a range of tourist accommodations from luxury hotels to modest self-catering establishments. After the recession years, tourism picked up again in the mid-1990s, only to face another slowdown in 1999. This drop was in part due to increasing competition from other Caribbean countries such as the Dominican Republic, and in part to a reduction in visits from cruise ships as they shifted to non-Caribbean routes or shorter routes such as the Bahamas. Cruise ship visitors totalled 445,821 in 1999, a reduction from 517,888 in 1997, but stay-over visitors rose to 517,869 in 1999, setting a new record. Overall, the country witnessed over US$700 million in tourism receipts in 1999.

A problem in Barbados is that tourist facilities are too densely concentrated on the south coast, which is highly urbanised, while the Atlantic coast—with a rugged shoreline and large waves—is not suitable for beach tourism. There are few large brand-name hotels, which makes marketing the island in the United States difficult. On the other hand, the absence of conglomerates and package tours results in more direct tourist spending among the general population.

[[File:Bathsheba, Barbados 02.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Bathsheba, Saint Joseph, Barbados|Bathsheba, Saint Joseph]]]]
Barbados has numerous internationally known hotels. Time-shares are available, and many smaller local hotels and private villas that dot the island have space available if booked in advance. The southern and western coasts of Barbados are popular, with the calm light-blue Caribbean Sea and their white and pinkish sandy beaches. Along the island's east coast, which faces the Atlantic Ocean, there are tumbling waves that are perfect for light [[surfing]]. Some areas remain risky to swimmers due to under-tow currents. The Crane beach was named one of the top 10 best beaches in the world.

[[Shopping]] districts are popular in Barbados, with ample [[duty-free shop]]ping. There is also a festive night-life in mainly tourist areas such as the [[Saint Lawrence Gap, Christ Church, Barbados|Saint Lawrence Gap]]. Other attractions include wildlife reserves ([[Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary]]), jewellery stores, [[scuba diving]], helicopter rides, golf, festivals (the largest being the annual [[Crop Over]] festival July/Aug), sightseeing, cave exploration ([[Harrison's Cave]]), exotic drinks and fine clothes [[shopping]].

==== Attractions, landmarks and points of interest ====
Tourism accounts for almost one half of the economy.
Name / Parish Location:
{| valign="top"
|-
| style="width:200px; vertical-align:top;"|
– '''Christ Church'''
*[[Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary]]
*[[Saint Lawrence Gap]]
*[[Grantley Adams International Airport]]
*[[Chancery Lane Swamp]]
*[[Christ Church Foundation School (1809)]]
*[[Ocean Park, Barbados]]

– '''St. Andrew'''
*[[Chalky Mount potteries]]
*[[Cherry Tree Hill]]
*[[Morgan Lewis Windmill]]
*[[Barclays Park]]

– '''St. George'''
*[[Francia Great House]]
*[[Gun Hill Signal Station]]
*Orchid World
| style="width:200px; vertical-align:top;"|
– '''St. James'''
*[[St. James Church, Barbados|St. James Parish Church]]
*[[Folkestone Marine Park]]
*[[Lancaster Great House Gallery and Gardens]]
*[[Queen's College (Barbados)|Queen's College]]

– '''St. John'''
*[[Codrington College]]
*[[Conset Bay, Barbados|Conset Bay]]
*[[St. John Parish Church & church yard]]
*Massiah Street

– '''St. Joseph'''
*[[Andromeda Botanic Gardens]]
*[[Flower Forest]]
*Hackleton's Cliff
*Bathsheba
| style="width:200px; vertical-align:top;"|
– ''' [[Saint Lucy, Barbados|St. Lucy]] '''
*[[Animal Flower Cave]]
*[[Little Bay, Barbados|Little Bay]]
*[[Shamarra's House]]

– '''St. Michael'''
*Barbados Historical Museum
*[[Bridgetown Synagogue|Bridgetown Synagogue and Cemetery]]
*[[Bussa Emancipation Statue]]
*[[Ilaro Court]]
*[[Garrison Savannah]]
*[[Kensington Oval]]
*[[Mount Gay|Mount Gay Rum]]
*[[Barbados National Museum]]
*[[George Washington House (Barbados)|George Washington House]]
*[[The Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters]]
| style="width:200px; vertical-align:top;"|
– '''St. Peter'''
*[[Barbados Wildlife Reserve]]
*Farley Hill National Park
*[[St Nicholas Abbey]]

– '''St. Philip'''
* Crane Beach
* Sunbury Plantation
* Bayley's Plantation

– '''St. Thomas'''
*[[Clifton Hill Church|Clifton Hill Moravian Church]]
*[[Harrison's Cave]]
*[[Sharon Moravian Church]]
*Welchman Hall Gully
|}

=== Informatics ===

Informatics employed almost 1,700 workers in 1999, about the same number as the sugar industry. The island has been involved in data processing since the 1980s and now specialises in operations such as database management and insurance claims processing. Costs in Barbados are higher than elsewhere in the Caribbean (although still only half of costs in the United States), but the island offers strong advantages such as a literate English-speaking workforce and location in the same time zone as the eastern United States. Despite these factors, employment has fallen in recent years, reflecting increasing mobility on the part of foreign companies, which frequently relocate to lower-cost areas.

=== Financial services ===
The international business and financial services sector continues to be an important contributor to the economy of Barbados.  During fiscal year 2010/2011 the sector contributed approximately BBD$186 million in corporate taxes&nbsp;– almost 60% of the total corporate tax intake.  At the end of December 2010, there were 45 offshore banks, 242 captive insurance companies, 3,065 international business companies, and 408 international societies with restricted liability.
The financial sector is also under threat of sanctions from the EU and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), both of which have expressed concerns about money laundering, tax evasion, and other financial improprieties in Caribbean [[offshore financial centre|offshore centres]].

=== Cruise industry ===
In 2006 the Central Bank governor of Barbados urged the Government to consider investing in a Barbadian cruise ship company.   The government at that time did not invest in that opportunity but it is unknown if it will in future<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=27346 |title=Barbados and the region should consider the creation of a regional cruise line |access-date=2006-08-27 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827101310/http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=27346 |archive-date=27 August 2006}}</ref>

=== Rum ===
Barbados has three commercial rum distilleries: [[West Indies Rum Distillers Ltd]], [[Mount Gay Rum]] and [[Four Square Rum|Four Square]]. Mount Gay Eclipse Silver is one of the most recent Rums created back in 2008. There is also St. Nicholas Abbey, a smaller boutique operation.

=== Retail ===
[[File:Bridgetown 053.jpg|thumb|The independent [[F. W. Woolworth Company|Woolworth]] store on Prince William Henry Street, Bridgetown]]Retailing is an important economic activity, especially in Bridgetown where there are large department stores and supermarkets. In the countryside, most stores are small and family-run. Some 18,000 people work in the retail sector.