According to media reports (Saturday Sun October 7, 2006) the Government of Barbados has signed a deal with Carnival Cruise Lines (Carnival Corporation) ‘which guarantees that it (Barbados) will earn BDS$156 million (US$78 million) over the next three years’.

This figure is stated to have been based on the average daily spend of each embarking cruise ship passenger.

‘The deal will account for two-thirds of the island’s (cruise) business for the next three years and will ensure a minimum of 1.2 million visitors’.

‘Guarantees’ and ‘ensure a minimum’ leave readers in no doubt of what is expected from the tourism policymakers for the yet undisclosed financial commitment.