The which has been bringing smiles to the faces of couples struggling to conceive for the past 11 years, now falls under the Tourism Development Act, for its work in building up the medical tourism niche area.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport, , made this announcement today while addressing hoteliers under the umbrella Intimate Hotels of Barbados, during their Annual General Meeting at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

Describing the BFC’s inclusion under the Act as a “precedent that has been set” he said the clinic, which specialises in , would be “fully embraced and recognised as a tourism project“.

Mr. Sealy said: “They will actually be enjoying all of the benefits that all of you [Intimate Hotels of Barbados] enjoy. They can get their licence through the Ministry [of Tourism] [and] they can purchase various things duty free. We had to adjust the schedule and that was a miniature battle because they were those who felt that they [BFC], did not have any right being considered a tourism product and, therefore, that they should go to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance and get whatever concessions that they want. I said no…this is medical tourism …and if there is anyone in this room that knows anyone that has a legitimate tourism offering, we will support it,” Mr. Sealy underlined.

Mr. Sealy said he was happy about the BFC’s inclusion under the Act and reiterated government’s commitment to “embracing anything that is focused on providing medical services to persons that might not be resident here.” (JC/BGIS)