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Key tourism figures surpass pre-pandemic levels

by Barbados Today
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Barbados’ tourism industry is moving further along the road of recovery, with arrivals and occupancy levels last quarter surpassing numbers recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Renee Coppin disclosed that the final months of 2022 saw increases over corresponding periods in 2020 and 2021, saying this may mark the light at the end of the tunnel.

“We are definitely very happy to be able to report that we ended the last quarter of last year on a relatively high note and that the island, for the first time since the pandemic touched our shores and closed our industry in March 2020, was able to achieve arrival numbers in December 2022 that exceeded pre-pandemic levels,” she said.

Arrivals were at 59 216, a 4.58 per cent increase over December 2019 when there were 56 624 arrivals.

During the BHTA’s first quarterly update for the year, Coppin reported that there were also increases in October and November 2022 over 2020 and 2021. However, those numbers were still lower than 2019 levels – 30.95 per cent less in October and a decline of 30.27 per cent for November.

Reporting the findings of the Smith Travel Report on occupancy levels, Coppin said that on average, the numbers in the last quarter were higher last year. Occupancy levels were at 71.2 per cent, compared to 69.5 per cent in the same period in 2019.

She reported that in November 2022, the island’s accommodation sector saw 10 per cent more visitors in beds than in 2019, recording a high of 82.7 per cent occupancy.

In December 2019, occupancy was reported at 74.1 per cent and in December 2022, it was at 77.9 per cent – a 3.8 per cent increase.

“This while Average Daily Rates for December 2022 showed a $65.70 increase to $786.72 over the 2019 rate of $721.02. When we couple that with the fact that our supply of rooms this year outstripped pre-pandemic levels – at 198,059 room nights for December compared to 193,998 for 2019 – and overall the report registered supply for the year 2022 actually exceeding 2019 levels, we are delighted to have ended the year so strongly,” Coppin said.

However, the BHTA chairman remained concerned about weak projections for the traditionally slow summer months and expressed the hope that Barbados’ hosting of Caribbean Marketplace in May and the pending opening of the Wyndham Sam Lord’s will translate to higher arrival numbers.

“It is our hope that we will be able to showcase this newest addition to our hotel product in some form as well as to highlight the immense cultural, historical and epicurean experiences that we offer on the island,” Coppin said.

“We are already in conversation with our partners in other industries, including manufacturing and agriculture, to provide them with opportunities to showcase what they have to offer. It will also be the chance for other businesses that offer services locally and regionally to come on board as sponsors and partners for the event,” she added.

jeniquebelgrave@barbadostoday.bb

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