Barbados bets on Panama to grow in Tourism

With a view to continuing to grow, Barbados -considered the culinary capital of the Caribbean and cradle of rum- plans to strengthen its alliances with Panama and, for this, a high-level delegation from the Caribbean island will meet with authorities from the isthmus this March .

The Barbados delegation will be headed by the Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill, who will hold a series of meetings with the Panamanian Foreign Minister, HE Janaina Tewaney Mencomo; as well as with organizations located in the Colon Free Zone, with the intention of reviewing commercial exchange options.

The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Francine Blackman; the Ambassador of Barbados in Panama, Ian W. Walcott; the president of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Shelly Williams; the director of Latin America, the Caribbean and Sports of BTMI, Corey Garrett, among others.
 

Increasing Air Connectivity
In the summer of 2022, Barbados announced the return to its capital, Bridgetown, of twice-weekly flights from Panama City through Copa Airlines, traffic that had been affected by the pandemic. This alliance has been key to opening up connectivity possibilities with Latin America, Panama being the only link with the island, which is about a three-hour flight away. Compared to the January 2022 figures, visitor arrivals from Latin and Central America in January 2023 closed above 194%.

Through Panama, Barbados has already managed to position itself as a hub for travelers in the South Caribbean. By 2030, Barbados hopes to have increased its connectivity from twice weekly flights to daily flights, in order to match the current traffic of its main markets, including Mexico. Air transport capacity in all markets for Barbados increased 70% through February 2023, compared to February 2022, and over the next six months Barbados is expected to regain 90% of the seats it had in 2019.

On the other hand, until March 5, 47,930 summer reservations had been reported, which represents an increase of 26% compared to the 37,990 registered in the same period of 2022. Compared to 2019, general reservations by the summer of 2023 they exceed 3%. Only May and June bookings do not exceed 2019 levels. Meanwhile, hotel occupancy figures range from 83% to 93% per month.

Connection of Barbados with the LATAM traveler
Latin America is an extremely important market for Barbados, not only because of its proximity to the Caribbean, but also because of the similarities sought by travelers from the continent, including destinations where they can enjoy nature tourism , festivals, gastronomy, luxury experiences and sports, all while enjoying a safe vacation. Fortunately, Barbados is an island where all this and more can be found.

Additionally, when it comes to ecotourism, Barbados is one of the top sustainable destinations for investors, where travelers can enjoy eco-biking tours of the island's natural sites, walks in gardens, or lounge on its idyllic white-sand beaches. In fact, the BTMI and the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport were recently recognized for winning the Global Green Destinations Story Award 2023, in the environment and climate category.

CHTA Participation and MICE Marketing
Among the main activities related to tourism, Barbados will host the 41st edition of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace, which will take place from May 9 to 11 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandford Center. CHTA is the largest annual event of the influential trade association, bringing together buyers and sellers of tourism products and services from the region. The event will be held in Barbados for the first time in the organization's history, in a post-COVID-19 scenario, with the tourism industry in Barbados experiencing a great renaissance.

In this regard, the Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, announced that his country has the honor of hosting such a pre-eminent event of tourism stakeholders from around the world, since it aligns with the value offers of Barbados, which attract, among others, the most important markets. CHTA is expected to bring many economic benefits to the island, as the destination expects more than a thousand participants and approximately 90 international media. The economic gains will be generated as a result of approximately 2,000 hotel nights, a big win for Barbados, and from airline taxes and fees.

Signature Events
Although CHTA is one of the premier events for 2023, the island has 3 world-class signature events that take place annually on the island. These include:

Crop Over:
Held from July to August, Crop Over is the sweetest summer festival in the Caribbean, running this year from July 1 and ending on August 7. The festival invites locals and tourists alike to celebrate a 200 year old tradition of celebration honoring the end of the sugar cane season. This six-week festival celebrates all things Barbadian with parties from dusk to dawn, craft market, and culinary street fairs. The climax of the festival is Grand Kadooment Day where masked troupe bands make their way through a guided tour packed with attendees dressed in sequined costumes decorated with colorful feathers, and sparkling accents; dancing behind music trucks and traveling bars. The final
of the Crop Over event makes this the most exciting day of the year on the island. As you will hear Barbadians say: “Crop Over is sweet for days”!

Barbados Food and Rum Festival:
The Barbados Food and Rum Festival is a series of food and drink experiences designed to tease your taste buds with the best of Barbadian cuisine. It possesses the talents of locally and internationally acclaimed chefs and mixologists. It is a true celebration of high quality gastronomic art. The 2023 edition of the festival will take place from October 19 to 22.

Run Barbados Marathon:
This is the largest marathon in the Caribbean. Held in December, the prestigious Barbados Run has evolved into one of the premier sporting activities on the island. Known for its festive atmosphere and spirit of camaraderie. Run Barbados' unique route takes participants on a scenic drive through some of the most important places in Barbados' history. The options for racing around the world are endless, but the Run Barbados Marathon weekend has distinctive characteristics that can provide an experience to remember for a lifetime. The friendly local culture, the sheer beauty of the island, and the course of the marathon is as scenic as it is historical. The year 2023 will mark the 40th anniversary of the Run Barbados Marathon and the event will take place from December 8-10.