Projects

Tourism Emergency Management Committee

In 2005 the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport (Tourism) established a TEMC to plan and co-ordinate the tourism industry’s response during emergencies affecting the industry.

The TEMC is chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and International Transport or nominee. The Chief Executive Officer  of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association serves as the Deputy Chairperson.It comprises both private and public sector entities as follows:

  • Ministry of Tourism and International Transport (Chairperson)
  • Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (Deputy Chairperson)
  • Intimate Hotels of Barbados
  • Department of Emergency Management (Ex-Officio)
  • Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (Foreign Affairs)
  • Immigration Department
  • Airlines Association (Barbados) Inc.
  • Royal Barbados Police Force
  • Barbados Port Inc.
  • Ministry of Health and Wellness
  • Grantley Adams International Airport Inc.
  • Federation of Tour Operators
  • Barbados Defence Force (Officers of the Barbados Cadet Corps)
  • Telecommunications Unit
  • Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency

A representative of the TEMC sits on the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC).  This representative comes from the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport and the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, functioning on a shift system.

The TEMC operates in accordance with established Terms of Reference which relate to its functions, responsibilities, composition and structure.  These are as follows:

  • establish and maintain communication and coordinate activities with the Department of Emergency Management, and other organisations that can contribute to disaster and emergency response;
  • monitor decisions made by Department of Emergency Management, particularly actions undertaken by the Emergency Management Advisory Council;
  • facilitate the provision of centralised coordination and control of disaster response within the tourism industry through the formation of a Tourism Emergency Operations Centre (TEOC);
  • declare internal emergency alerts if an emergency has not been declared by national authorities;
  • provide and supervise ongoing training of personnel in emergency procedures;
  • keep abreast of any potential hazards that may pose a threat to the tourism industry via relevant agencies, media and the internet;
  • facilitate the development of and periodically review the comprehensive multi-hazard disaster plan for the tourism industry, which will mitigate the negative impacts on tourism facilities and services, and aid recovery;
  • facilitate the implementation and operationalisation of the multi-hazard disaster plan.