Sunday, November 24, 2024 Ralph Taylor, a trailblazer in Caribbean tourism and hospitality, has emphasized the importance of focusing on entrepreneurship, tourism, and youth as the foundation for the region’s growth. Speaking in Barbados while accepting an honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) from The University of the West Indies (UWI) at its Cave Hill Campus, Taylor called for a unified approach to developing these sectors. Taylor commended UWI’s commitment to teaching entrepreneurship but advocated for a deeper focus on practical business projects, particularly those that empower at-risk youth.
He stressed the need to build a robust ecosystem for youth entrepreneurship, involving collaboration among governments, private companies, nonprofits, youth organizations, media, and families. Taylor urged UWI to spearhead this movement through its entrepreneurship programs and the Cave Hill School of Business and Management. Taylor outlined the transformative potential of such initiatives, predicting benefits like economic diversification, job creation, new business development, innovative products, and an enhanced reputation for UWI.
He argued that this holistic approach could boost not just the university but also local communities and the country’s economy as a whole. As a pioneer in the all-inclusive resort concept, Taylor brings unique insights to this vision. He currently leads Arcadia Hotels & Resorts, which owns The Soco Hotel in Barbados and The Soco House in St.
Lucia. .