Barbados’ tourism authorities are anticipating productive results from Connect Barbados 2026, the tourism showcase which brought close to 100 tourism operators from around the globe to Barbados this week to get a comprehensive update on the island’s entire tourism product.
Speaking at the closing awards ceremony at Harbour Lights on Bay Street, St Michael on Wednesday night, Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill thanked the tour operators for the sterling contribution they continue to make “as travel partners”. He said it was important to encourage as many people as possible to visit Barbados to ensure that the tourism industry which accounts for 45 per cent of Barbados’ GDP was sustained.
The event was organised by Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc and chief operating officer Cheryl Carter expressed “an overwhelming sense of gratitude, pride and optimism” at the outcome of this year’s event.
“Over the past several days, we trust that we have created a space where relationships have been strengthened, new opportunities have emerged and new relationships have been formed,” she stated.
The theme for this year’s Connect Barbados was Rooted in Culture: Powered by Partnership and Carter said this was reflected in “every meeting, every conversation, every shared meal and every new relationship formed throughout the week”.
This year Connect Barbados welcomed 92 overseas buyers representing 83 companies, 111 local tourism partners and suppliers, which Carter said was the strongest participation in the history of the event.
“You have helped to create one of the most successful editions of Connect Barbados to date,” Carter said.
Several awards were presented, including a trade award presented to Canada’s Classic Vacations for the Largest Increase in Room Nights; the Connect Barbados Media Award for Best Festival Event Story, which went to unanimously-selected Barbadian journalist Damian Hall and the Connect Barbados 2026 award to Caribbean Airlines for the largest increase in capacity in winter 2025/26, an increase of more than 9 500 seats.
After the awards ceremony, guests were treated to a dinner show with an entertainment package that included the sweet sounds of tuk; towering dancing stiltwalkers, a fire-eater, steelpannists and dancers performing to the soca rhythms and the band Masala. (GC)