BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Barbados plans to spend some Bds$20 billion (US$10 billion) over the next 10 years to improve the tourist industry and push the destination to world-class standards, The Nation's Sunday Sun newspaper reported.

President of the Barbados Tourism Authority, Stuart Layne, was quoted as saying the investment would result in a massive upgrading of hotels and attractions.

"It would take us to a different level. We would have World Cup standards, top-of-the-line aware-ness which is what the events will do. If you thought it was good in the past, it would get even better," said Layne.

The tourism boss said there was a goal to have a quality holiday known as 'Barbadian holiday', within another seven to 10 years.

"We already have brand equity, especially in the British market. In fact, we are building good ground, but we need to do more work to reach world-class status," he said.

The project, which works out to average expenditure of US$1 billion per year, will be backed by private sector investments and meetings to that effect have already been taking place in Miami.