In a recent legislative address, Barbados’ top tourism official heralded a significant surge in tourism activity, buoyed by expanded flight schedules and a notable increase in cruise ship visitors compared to the previous year.
Ian Gooding-Edghill, the Minister of Tourism and International Transport for Barbados, highlighted the remarkable rise in arrival numbers, attributing it to the substantial increase in airlift from key source markets. He noted that this resurgence brings arrival numbers closer to pre-COVID levels.
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Compared to the previous year, Barbados is set to welcome additional flights from major carriers such as American Airlines, Delta Airlines, JetBlue, and Air Canada, as announced by Gooding-Edghill. He emphasized that an additional 65,000 seats will be dedicated to flights to Barbados during the upcoming winter season.
Furthermore, Delta Airlines will introduce additional Saturday flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport starting November 5, 2024, along with Saturday flights from Philadelphia commencing November 9.
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Despite the positive outlook, Gooding-Edghill emphasized a stance of encouragement rather than satisfaction or complacency. He pointed to the increasing number of airlines and vessels, along with their passengers, choosing Barbados as their destination as a source of motivation.
Highlighting the growth in cruise tourism, Gooding-Edghill noted that cruise passenger arrivals are projected to surpass last year’s numbers. A total of 826,338 passengers are expected to visit Bridgetown this year, arriving on 338 calls, compared to 661,635 passengers on 373 calls during the previous winter season.
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