Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, Stephen Austin, is calling for an all hands on deck approach in helping to deal with the negative impacts of the coronavirus on the sector.

Speaking at the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association general meeting at the Hilton Resort he said the sector has experienced as much as a 70% to 80% drop in business.

Meantime, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Kerrie Symmondshas defended the Government position not to close its boarders in light of the coronavirus outbreak.