Tourism stakeholders gathered at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Two Mile Hill, St Michael, for the Minister’s State of the Industry 2026 address.
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. chief operating officer Cheryl Carter said 2025 was a record year for arrivals, while this year had brought a mixture of challenges and growth opportunities.
She pointed to reduced winter capacity from the United States but increased capacity from Canada, including the introduction of year-round flights to and from Montreal.
Sport tourism will also be a major feature, with Barbados set to host the World Bridge Championships next year.
Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill called on the stakeholders to reach beyond Barbados’ source markets while urging entities such as the Intimate Hotels of Barbados to publicise their achievements more.
The event also featured reports from the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, Intimate Hotels of Barbados, Bridgetown Port Inc., Grantley Adams International Airport, Caribbean Aircraft Handlers and Goddard Catering Group Inc. (CA)