Barbados seeing significant growth in 2015

Barbados continues to see strong tourism numbers for 2015, with 45,485 Canadians reported to have visited the island in the past six months. This is following what officials called a record-breaking month in January 2015, which saw more than 10,000 Canadians (an increase of 27 per cent from 2014) to the island alone.

Representatives from Visit Barbados are taking a week in Canada to promote the destination, which in addition to its influx of visitors, is in the process of instituting new festivals and events for 2015 and is forecasting considerable hotel development for the next four years.

“As an organization and as a destination, we’re trying to transition into a new business model of driving people to destinations,” William Griffith, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) said of the country’s plans for expansion.

Among these plans are the launch of a new website, which Griffith said will showcase the unique balance offered between all-inclusive and immersive cultural experiences to potential visitors.

“From the west coast to the south, there’s a great range in hotel product,” Griffith told PAX, “from Airbnb listings to resorts, to villas. It gives an option for many different kinds of travellers.”

Barbados’ growth is due in part, Griffith said, to its partnerships with Air Canada (with whom the destination celebrated its 65 year anniversary of non-stop flights in December 2014), and Westjet, which also offers non-stop flights to the country several times a week.

Canada, Griffith told PAX, is Barbados’ third largest market, and accounts for 24 per cent of the country’s business.

Here are some highlights on what’s to come in Barbados:

Hotel Developments

According to Griffith, Barbados intends to add a room stock of nearly 2,300 to the island between 2015 and 2019. “We have a grand vision of returning the more than 800 rooms that have been closed on the island for the last 10 years,” he said.

Sandals Barbados – Opened in January 2015 in the St. Lawrence Gap area, this is the only Sandals resort presently on the island and is currently expanding to add 200 more accommodations to its present count of 280. The Sandals brand has also purchased an additional property on the island and is planning to unveil a new Beaches resort in approximately 14 months.

Sugar Bay Barbados – Located in the Garrison Historic Area of Barbados, Sugar Bay is due to open in November 2015 as a family-friendly resort with a multitude of dining options.

Savannah Beach Hotel – Built in the 19th century, this hotel, also a UNESCO Heritage Site, is undergoing a full restoration upgrade project and intends to keep the traditional style in which the structure was originally built.

2015 Festivals & Events

Along with Barbados’ long-standing traditional events, such as its Crop Over Festival in July and its Independence Day in November, the island has been working to introduce new items to its calendar throughout the past few years.

JULY

• Crop Over is Barbados’ premiere summer celebration, a traditional blend of music and masquerade signifying the end of the annual sugar cane harvest that attracts visitors from around the world. July 28-Aug 4.

OCTOBER

• Red Bull Rallycross will be returning to the island for a second year following its 2014 debut, and is expecting to welcome more than 21,500 fans to watch the doubleheader. Oct 3-5.

NOVEMBER

• The Open Water Festival is an open-water swim race (with 1.5km and 5km distance) hosted in Carlisle Bay. The celebration includes leisure swims, paddle boarding and kayak races. Nov 4-8.
• Pro Surf Fest is the biggest surfing event on the island, taking place in Bathsheba’s famous ‘Soup Bowl’ and hosting the Independence Surf Pro as well as the Caribbean Junior Championship. The festival also features live music, arts & crafts, and local food. Nov 12-15.
• Independence Day will mark 50 years of independence in Barbados this year. Nov 30.

DECEMBER

• Run Barbados is new in 2015, returning after a three-year hiatus. The weekend hosts half- and full-marathons as well as a mile run, a 5km walk and a 10km run. According to Griffith, Run Barbados is one step in a strategy to present the island as a “run destination.” Dec 4-6.
• Classical Pops will kick off its second annual celebration of classical and contemporary music with a 65-member orchestra comprised of musicians from the Boston Symphony and New York Philharmonic. Pop, rock, opera and Broadway performers are also expected to attend. Dec 11-12.