Barbados reports hike in tourism arrivals figures, says Minister Cummins

Barbados: Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Lisa Cummins, considered the projection of tourism arrival figures for 2022 healthy and successful as Barbados is witnessing huge tourist arrival from the United States market.

While stating the progress of the tourism sector in Barbados, Lisa Cummins said that the projected tourism arrival figures for 2022 are looking healthy as the bulk of people is coming from the United States market.

Lisa Cummins further revealed that sea and air arrival passengers for 2022 of Barbados are looking healthy and successful.

Speaking at the State of the Industry media briefing at Hilton Barbados Resort on the morning of Saturday, March 19, 2022, Lisa Cummins noted that the Tourism Industry is looking for huge diversification in its product to enhance tourism and also go beyond tourists’ arrivals as a measure of success.

She said, “We project a healthy 2022 for Barbados in terms of the anticipated seat capacity with a projected total of 846,413 and the Industry is further expecting that the United States would continue to be the biggest producer with 279,714, it is further followed by the United Kingdom with a total of seating capacity of 258,106”.

Lisa Cummins also affirmed that Barbados would also see a return of Copa Airlines from Panama City.

Outlining the cruise tourism industry, the Tourism Minister further explained that for summer 2022, there are five vessel calls scheduled. For the Winter season 2022/2021, she added that Barbados also affirmed that there are 390 vessel calls with the sailing capacity, which is expected to reach 80 percent, and this should also include the possible start of P&0 vessel Ariva homeporting in the country.

Further, she asserted that these projections would also impact Eastern Europe after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

She disclosed that for the period January to February 2022, the in-house front figures show that Barbados has fetched some 67,463 stayover visitors, a great hike of 61,672 visitors compared to the corresponding period of 2021.

This was attributed to the winter season 2021/2022 and the hosting of cricket matches and Round Barbados Sailing Week.