Barbados is stepping boldly into the digital era: as of July 1, 2025, its Immigration Department has officially launched an online entry visa application portal, enhancing convenience and efficiency for travellers worldwide. This new portal joins the EZPay+ online payment system, which has handled all immigration payment types since March 14, 2025. At the press conference held at Immigration HQ on...
Barbados has been officially approved for Series “A” shareholder status by the Board of Directors of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, marking a major milestone in the island's international financial standing. This upgrade, CAF’s highest level of membership, positions Barbados for greater access to development funds and grants the country a seat on the bank’s board,...
Global hotel operator Valor Hospitality Partners is officially entering the Caribbean market through a landmark partnership with Cove Bay Developments to manage a new luxury destination on Tobago’s stunning northern coast. The Plymouth Peninsula Tobago project is set to debut in 2027 and marks Valor’s first footprint in the region. The high-end resort will be developed by Cove Bay Developments, led...
Barbados is looking to deepen ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region as part of its global tourism expansion strategy. The Caribbean destination welcomed a high-level delegation from the Middle East to its flagship trade show, Connect Barbados, which returned this June for the first time since the pandemic. The four-day event, held from June 23 to 26, 2025, brought together leading travel...
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and IDB Invest have joined forces in a renewed strategic partnership designed to accelerate private sector development and enhance trade finance access across the Caribbean. The announcement signals a major step toward strengthening the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving regional economic growth. This new collaboration places private...
Montego Bay is preparing to mark a major milestone in its tourism landscape with the debut of its first-ever Marriott-branded hotel—a contemporary AC Marriott set to transform the city’s iconic Hip Strip. Announced by Sandals Resorts Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, the 165-room property will be built on the former site of Sandals Carlyle and will feature a European Plan (EP) model—moving away...
Barbados has reached a significant milestone in its economic recovery journey with the successful conclusion of its IMF-supported reform programme, securing the final loan disbursement of approximately US$116 million (BDS$232 million) under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The IMF Executive Board approved the fifth and final reviews of both...
The upcoming launch of the CARICOM Payments and Settlement System (CAPSS) is set to transform how money moves across the Caribbean and between the region and Africa. Governor Timothy N. J. Antoine of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) says the system will enhance trade, investment, and financial inclusion, particularly for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Speaking at the Caribbean...
Royal Caribbean is charting a bold course for 2026 with major upgrades planned for two of its popular Caribbean-focused cruise ships—Harmony of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas. As part of the cruise line’s Royal Amplified program, these transformations aim to deliver even more entertainment, dining, and adventure to guests sailing through the Caribbean. The amplified vessels, now open for...
A landmark collaboration between the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the CARICOM Committee of Central Bank Governors aims to accelerate green investments across the English-speaking Caribbean, offering new hope for climate resilience, economic growth, and sustainable development in one of the world’s most vulnerable regions. At the core of this agreement is the creation of a regional...