Barbados celebrates long-standing UK travel partners

Barbados tourism is more than a legacy and promises to retain its proven tourism offerings and partnerships, while continuing to develop the local industry to ensure it remains competitive in the global landscape.

That was the theme of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s (BTMI) travel partner reception held recently in London, just ahead of the 2022 World Travel Market show. In the audience were top U.K. travel trade partners for the destination including airlines, tour operators, travel agents and media.

Led by Prime Minister Mia Mottley, the reception presented an opportunity to thank the island’s long-standing travel partners for their unwavering support during challenging times and to welcome them to be a part of Barbados’ future as the destination continues to grow its tourism product offering.

Speaking on the return of Barbados’ tourism, Prime Minister Mottley said: “We are doing it now not just as we have done it before, but we are doing it now with the benefit of what sustained us through COVID and that was the Welcome Stamp. We are in a position now to not only say welcome to the Welcome Stamp, but welcome to all of you again and in a meaningful way to do it better than we have ever done it before. We are happy to work with our partners to keep the traditional, but also create new opportunities as we go forward.”

The theme of the Barbados delegation approaching the World Travel Market November 7-10, More than a Legacy, pays homage to the destination’s longstanding relationship with the U.K and reaffirms Barbados’ commitment to ensuring an equally prosperous future through continued enhancement of the tourism product. Some of the new product highlighted included the 450-room Sam Lord’s Castle by Wyndham, which will soon be opening.

Stressing the importance of travel partners to Barbados’ success, Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding Edghill said: “No destination can succeed without the support and contributions of its partners who ensure Barbados is accessible, top-of-mind, and occupies a special place in the hearts and minds of would-be travellers. Acknowledging this, the Government of Barbados is grateful for your continued confidence in the destination despite the tumultuous two-and-a-half-years the industry has experienced.”

He highlighted examples of the commitment of airline partners, noting that while faced with the impacts of the pandemic and economic uncertainty, Barbados was the first Caribbean destination that British Airways and Virgin Atlantic returned to as travel resumed.

The World Travel Market is one of the world’s largest travel exhibitions and is a forum for travel industry professionals to connect, learn and do business. Held every year in London, it provides Barbados the opportunity to foster and maintain key relationships with travel and tourism partners, and to explore new opportunities for development of the industry. (PR)