Grantley Adams International Airport

14 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 11 GRANTLEY ADAMS INTERNAT IONAL AI RPORT staying abreast of global airport best practices. “We had aggressive plans to upgrade and modernize the airport pre-pandemic, but all those slowed down during the pandemic. In 2023 and beyond, we want to regain that momentum and get back to our modernization schedule.” Achieving all this is not just a professional objective for Bourne but a personal one because of how he views the work that the airport (and any other airport) does. “I’m well aware of the impact that ports of entry have on the national economy,” he says. “As a small developing state heavily dependent on tourism, I know the airport’s role in the country.” “This awareness drives me to get up every morning to ensure the organization reaches its potential. When it does, it creates a systemic impact throughout the economy and community.” “I see it as a catalyst for economic growth. For example, many small businesses derive revenue from airport activities, whether craft vendors, taxi drivers, restaurants, or other associated operators.” “For an economy built on tourism like Barbados, the airport is a major economic driver. If it succeeds, it will nourish the wider economy.”