Air Peace route hailed as boost for tourism, trade

Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill says the arrival of Nigerian airline Air Peace could significantly boost tourism, trade and investment between Barbados, West Africa and the wider region.

The Nigerian carrier touched down at the Grantley Adams International Airport on Sunday with more than 280 passengers on board, marking the first direct flight from Lagos, Nigeria to Barbados.

Addressing the official media launch at Hotel Indigo on Monday, Gooding-Edghill described the new service as transformational for Barbados and the wider Caribbean.

“Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy. It has a population of over 220 million people, a rapidly expanding and sophisticated middle class, and a cultural travel market that is well established,” the minister said.

“Nigerian travelers are discerning. They seek quality, authenticity and memorable experiences. Barbados offers all of that in abundance, and we are fully prepared to compete for and win that market.”

He also pointed to the wider opportunities created by the route, noting that Air Peace’s network extends across several West African territories.

“Through connectivity, this single route provides Barbados with accessibility far beyond the borders of Nigeria and the West African travelling public,” Gooding-Edghill said.

“The potential visitor numbers are significant. The economic impact, if we execute our strategy well, will be substantial.”

The minister said Barbados’ tourism sector was prepared to capitalise on the opportunity, adding that the island’s hotels, restaurants, attractions and wider tourism ecosystem stood ready to deliver experiences capable of generating repeat visits and stronger word-of-mouth promotion.

Chief Operating Officer of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Okey Ihejirika, also underscored the significance of the new connection between Africa and the Caribbean, saying inadequate transportation links had long restricted trade and people-to-people engagement between the regions.

“The absence of direct and reliable transportation linking the two regions has constrained significantly trade and limited our tourism flows, slowed business exchanges and reduced opportunities for deeper people-to-people engagement,” Ihejirika said.

“If you look at the numbers for inter-regional trade between Africa and the Caribbean, it’s simply non-existent, but this definitely is a big turnaround.”

He added that improved connectivity could unlock new opportunities in commerce, tourism, investment, innovation and cultural exchange.

Ihejirika said Afreximbank had championed the initiative as part of efforts to deepen trade and cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, officials from the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. outlined plans to expand Barbados’ tourism footprint in Africa through partnerships and targeted market education initiatives.

Air Peace’s bi-monthly service operates from Lagos to Barbados before continuing on to Antigua, with the return leg departing the following day. The route is scheduled to operate from May to September.

Barbados becomes the airline’s third international destination outside Africa, alongside London and Antigua.

(JB)