What does the opening of the tourism office in Panama mean?
I suppose the opening of the office in Panama is for us a compliment and a sign of years of dedication in Panama and in the Latin American market, being a country that is always interested in America, having offices in the region increases our potential for development and It is very gratifying to have that ability to build a physical presence in a country like Panama. However, we also have an office that connects to Latin America in Brazil, because of course, the Brazilian market is a key market that is connected to different strategic markets that also provide traffic to our country, so we are happy to establish those connections incresing our presence in the region.
We know you have a new Copa Airlines flight. Can you specify more information about it?
As you know, the connections with Copa began in 2018 but due to the pandemic they had to be suspended, but fortunately we were able to resume. It started last year again after the recovery of our markets, passengers and visitors. Today the frequency has increased and we understand that the airline benefits from flying to our destination as much as Barbados does with that wonderful connection after recovery. So the signs regarding the arrival of visitors and new connections are positive for us, and we continue to build and work on that.
What new experiences are the destination offering visitors in this new system?
Exciting news coming this year, we have eight events now and we also have international superstars and acts, as well as new products and experiences. The Barbados Food and Rum Festival returns this 2023 and the Barbados Tourism Office has teamed up with 22 local chefs and mixologists to showcase the best of Barbados' culinary talent and gastronomy. In addition, by the end of the year, seven new restaurants will open on the island and new mountain bike activities and excursions that will continue to be developed to ensure the satisfaction of our visitors.
What main news do you have about the hotel industry on the island?
We have new hotels on the way and incredible development projects in our city, in the last three years the hotel zone has been developing a lot and there are currently seven different projects. In addition, new restaurants will arrive, business that will continue to accompany the growth of the island, which offers opportunities for everyone who comes to our destination.
What is your opinion about the visits to upcoming season?
We are growing in reservations for the next visits. Last year the recovery of tourism was 65% compared to 2018, that is, there are definitely more and more people who come to the island in search of recreation, so we are seeing our destination much stronger than the last year so the summer season has to be good for us too, continuing to develop and increasing our visits to upcoming season.
What are the most important markets in Latin America for Barbados?
We mainly receive visitors from Mexico and Panama, of course, due to our flights, and we also attract Colombian and Brazilian travelers to our destination who are interested in all that Barbados has to offer. But in general, we see Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Mexico and also Argentina as stronger.
Since Barbados tourism are doing a promotion around different events, what's next?
We are going to the Panama Rum Fest, because with the official inauguration of our new office it is an important opportunity to be there in Panama City, and besides that, we will be performing in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
What is your final message for the MICE community?
I can only say that Barbados is a destination that offers many opportunities with hotels, resorts, nature, culture, and the Mice sector has incredible opportunities on the island, ranging from attending the event and making it great to later living great experiences, getting to know the destination and enjoying its history, activities and tours.