Barbados tourism continues to see solid growth, according to the latest numbers from the country’s destination marketing organization. 

Barbados recorded a 4.2 increase in stayover tourist arrivals in the first nine months of 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. 

“Several of [our marketing] efforts are bearing fruit and we must press forward in this light to conclude the rest of the year with a solid performance,” said William “Billy” Griffith, Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

Between January and September 2019, Barbados welcomed 522,583 visitors through the enhanced Grantley Adams International Airport, thereby accounting for an increase of 21,200 visitors. 

The BTMI is also continuing to pursue new cruise marketing and product development initiatives, officials said. 

The BTMI is projecting cruise arrivals to reach around 840,000 by the end of December.

Of Barbados’ major source markets, Central and South America recorded the highest growth for 2019 at 11 percent, followed by the United States at 9.5 percent, the latter a particularly significant number.

Germany and the United Kingdom also performed favorably with increases of 5.7 percent and 8.7 percent respectively. 

“One of the pivotal elements of guaranteeing the viability of our tourism industry is ensuring that the island remains easily accessible by land and sea,” Griffith said. “The BTMI has worked closely with our airline partners to maintain, and even boost airlift and this has contributed in part to our favorable increases in arrivals.”

— CJ