Barbados tops Destination Satisfaction Index for 2017

Barbados has been named in the number one spot on the 2017 Destination Satisfaction Index (DSI), with the highest overall World score (8.8/10) of the 144 countries included.

Over 70,000 travellers were interviewed around the world throughout 2017 for the DSI, which measures the overall valuation of a holiday destination based on the factors that travellers find most appealing.

The survey saw 1.4 million responses from travellers who provided their verdict in 20 categories including Beaches, Accommodation, Cuisine, and Shopping.

A Barbados delegation led by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Donna Cadogan, accepted the awards during a ceremony at the ITB Berlin travel trade show.

“For us, it’s going to be very advantageous because with our marketing and our public relations, we’re going to be saying we’re [the] best in the world, at least for the next 12 months,” said William ‘Billy’ Griffith, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. CEO.

“And I think it helps us in our quest to move forward in terms of pressing for success for Barbados tourism.”

Barbados also finished in first place in the Accommodation category, with Cadogan saying that the result was a testament to the success of the strategic steps that had been taken in the sector. “Over the last year, 2017, we would have had about 43 different establishments which refurbished; therefore, our product is being refreshed,” she said.

“We are making a concerted effort and working on our accommodation, and it is bearing results as you have seen from the Accommodation award that we have received here today.”