With nearly 3 000 applications in just over three months, the Barbados Hospitality Gateway Training Initiative (BHGTI) is gaining rapid traction as the government moves to fill thousands of vacancies in an expanding tourism industry, according to the technical and vocational training minister.

This government workforce development initiative was initially established to train 5 000 people. According to one hotel industry leader, challenges were being encountered in finding people with “the right talent and the right fit for all the positions that we have available within the industry”.

Minister Sandra Husbands said the BHGTI was providing training in the skills needed for all areas within the hospitality industry.