Prominent entertainer, Mac Fingall (left), who was Master of Ceremonies for the launch of the Barbados Food and Rum Festival 2017, looking on as mixologist Damian Williams adds the final touches to his special cocktail.
A grand cultural presentation at the opening of the Barbados Food and Rum Festival 2017, which took place at the Oistins Bay Gardens on Thursday evening, was enjoyed by all.
THE Barbados Food and Rum Festival 2017 has officially started.
The annual Festival, which attracts hundreds to the island to enjoy the country’s rich rum and cuisine, was launched at Oistins Bay Gardens, Oistins, Christ Church, on Thursday evening.
Cooking demonstrations and a grand cultural presentation were in the mix, during the launch.
Delivering brief remarks, Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Alvin Jemmott, declared that “this year, we will see the largest number of visitors to Barbados as a result of the Food and Rum Festival, from all our major source markets”.
“Of course, we have with us this evening and throughout the course of the Festival, our international press. They come from the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, and across the Caribbean. We would like to welcome all of our international press,” he said.
The Chairman reminded the scores that gathered in the area, that the international press who come to the Festival and take back many stories about their experience on the island to their respective countries, play a major role in promoting Barbados’ tourism and the people of the nation.
“Fittingly, we have dubbed next year as the year of culinary experiences and that will all get started in January when we start the Sugar and Rum season, which will continue right through the entire winter season, and of course the culinary experiences will take us all the way down to the Food and Rum Festival 2018.
“So there is a lot to celebrate. As we continue to have great festivals and great tourism performances, I would like to thank all Barbadians for truly playing their part in embracing tourism and truly making this our industry,” he said. (AH)