For the first eight months of 2023, more visitors travelled to Barbados by air in comparison to the same period last year.
There was also a significant increase in cruise passengers, and tourism officials are optimistic that those numbers will keep rising as the sector continues to rebound.
Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill gave that assessment as he spoke during a thanksgiving service at Ann Gill Methodist Church, Fairfield, St Michael, yesterday to mark World Tourism Day.
“As we celebrate World Tourism Day, we in the ministry are so grateful for the demonstrated fact that our tourism industry continues to rebound. This is shown by the fact that visitor arrivals for the period January to August 2023 increased by 15 per cent compared to the same period last year, rising from 351 660 to 405 325 for 2023,” he said.
He attributed a portion of that success to the ministry’s push to introduce and expand airlift to the island. (TG)
