Automated Passport Kiosks will soon be in operation at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA).
The announcement was made just yesterday by Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Kerrie Symmonds, as he delivered remarks at the opening ceremony for the Barbados Tourism Product Authority’s new Information Booth at the airport.
“We are at the level of Cabinet now proud to say to the country that we have agreed in principle for the implementation and commencement of operations of the Automated Passport Kiosks. That means now that working together with Immigration officers, not in place of immigration officers, but together with (them), we will be in a situation where persons coming into Barbados can choose to use a machine which will read and scan the passport, issue you with a receipt and then you just take that through to the immigration officer and that expedites the process, because the immigration officer does not have to go through all that he or she may otherwise have had to do and the line therefore starts to move faster,” Minister Symmonds explained.
“The effect as I understand it, is that there should be an 88 per cent faster throughput in the Grantley Adams International Airport once this is fully implemented, than there is at present.”
“And that ladies and gentlemen is part of the overall visitor experience that we are striving for, to make it easier, to facilitate the business of travel and make it more hassle free and make it a more enjoyable and less problematic experience for the weary traveler bringing his or her family along with them, but to let them get out through the airport, have a memorable and pleasant experience in the airport and begin to enjoy destination Barbados in its wider sense,” the Minister stated. (RSM)