Barbados
News

Visitors Are Spending More on This Caribbean Island

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - July 14, 2016

A quarterly survey conducted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization found that long stay visitors to Barbados spent 20 percent more money during the first quarter of 2016 than during the same period in 2015.

According to the report, total visitor expenditure on island grew from $280 million to $337 million in the first quarter.

This was achieved through a 14.9 percent increase in visitor average length of stay and a total growth of 7.4 percent in visitor arrivals.

The latter compensated for a decline in the average daily spend of 5.6 percent to generate the recorded growth in expenditure of $57 million in the first quarter of 2016.

Barbados was able to achieve growth in the average length of stay for all markets during the period, with the exception of the Caribbean region, which remained unchanged.

This yielded an overall increase of 8.9 percent in the visitor expenditure per person per trip.

Additionally, all markets, with the exception of the Caribbean, recorded increase in visitor expenditure per person per trip, with the U.S. leading the way with a significant 42.4 percent increase in spending by American guests.

The Caribbean was the only market that did not record an increase in the visitor expenditure per person per trip.

A breakdown of spending by market during the first quarter revealed that the visitors from the U.S. market spent the most on average per day at $240.78.

This increased coincides with an improved U.S. economy and lower oil prices, as well as additional airlift out of Boston and New York during the reporting period, which generated more than 4,800 additional seats.

Visitors from the U.K. contributed to 43 percent of the overall total expenditure with $146 million, an increase of $23 million over Q1 2015.

Total expenditure by visitors from the U.S. and Canada followed with $83 million and $53 million, respectively.

Sandy Lane in Barbados

Meanwhile, money spent by European visitors totaled $27 million, an increase of eight percent.

On-island spending by travelers from other countries, which included Latin America, Asia and Africa rose by three percent to approximately $10 million.

Respondents, who represented one person per family or spending party, also revealed details on how they spent their holiday monies.

The largest share of traveler’s spending – 55.1 percent – was allocated to accommodation, a decline of 2.6 percent year-on-year.

This was followed by food and beverage outside of accommodation establishments – 18.2 percent – an increase of 0.5 percent.

“We continue to be very encouraged by the positive direction in visitor arrivals and, even more importantly, in visitor expenditure,” said William Griffith, CEO of the Barbados Tourism Marking Inc. This makes the role of the BTMI and our partners at the Barbados Tourism Product Authority and the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association so important in creating more exciting and compelling ways for visitors to spend their money on the island.”

Popular Posts riviera maya resort closing

Hyatt Is Closing This Riviera Maya Resort, With Plans for a Rebranding

Hyatt is closing one of its top luxury resorts in the Mexican Caribbean in a few months, with plans for a rebranding, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, one of a trio of properties in the […]


Frontier Airlines Is Adding Another New Nonstop Flight to the Dominican Republic’s Most Popular Destination: Punta Cana

punta cana golf dominican republic

The beaches, the all-inclusives, the nightclubs, the beach bars. Punta Cana is the spot when it comes to Dominican Republic travel, and now it’s getting another nonstop route from one of the fastest-growing airlines in the Caribbean.  Low-cost carrier Frontier […]


Travelers Keep Flocking to This Caribbean Island Famous for Beaches, Diving and a Colorful, Historic Capital 

curacao all-inclusive vacation

The colorful streets of Willemstad. The pristine, uncrowded beaches on the west coast. The party scene at Mambo. The floating bridge. Those Dutch Treat fries. The blissfully refreshing batidos. The unique, authentic hotels, from luxury resorts to dive spots.  Curacao […]


Related Posts the villa has a pool

How to Save on This St Thomas Villa With Views of the Island’s Most Famous Beach

It’s one of the best beaches, well, in the world; Magens Bay, that famous crescent of sugar-white sand in the heart of St Thomas.  But what if that was the view from your villa?  That’s what you get at the […]


This Turks and Caicos Resort Has Its Own Floating Bar on a Deserted Island 

ambergris cay

It’s a pilgrimage just about every guest at the Ambergris Cay resort makes at least once on their stay. You take a short ride on an ultra-luxe powerboat to a floating bar set off the coast of the nearby deserted […]


Bermuda’s New Airline Is Adding Three More Nonstop Routes 

bermuda st regis on the beach

Upstart carrier BermudAir is adding three new nonstop flights to the island of Bermuda, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The boutique carrier is set to launch new flights to Bermuda out of Richmond, Virginia, Providence and Montreal.  All three flights will […]