Barbados’ tourism has held firm in its key markets, with no dip in bookings reported despite recent crime-related travel advisories, the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) said Thursday.
At the association’s quarterly media briefing on Thursday, BHTA chairman Javon Griffith acknowledged that the United Kingdom had updated its travel advice earlier this year, urging visitors to take extra care following incidents of violence and carjackings.
But, he stressed, “there has been no recorded decline in UK forward bookings as of July 2025, highlighting the continued confidence of the source market in Barbados’s tourism product.”
Griffith also addressed misinformation, referencing a false social media post that claimed the United States had issued a Level 4 ‘Do Not Travel’ warning against Barbados.
“When that circulated, the BHTA joined with our partners in swiftly refuting the claim,” he said.
“It highlighted again the importance of making sure that accurate, positive information about Barbados is what reaches both our citizens and the international community.”
The BHTA chairman said that while violent crime in the wider community had increased, there had been no significant rise in incidents directly targeting tourists.
He added that members were not complacent and continued to invest in improvements.
“At the hotel level, our members are guiding guests on safe practices, while also upgrading lighting, strengthening security protocols, and making infrastructure upgrades,” Griffith said.
The association has also been intensifying collaboration with The Barbados Police Service and the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
Discussions with law enforcement have examined how the private sector might support police operations, “including the possibility of helping to fund new equipment, preventative strategies and awareness campaigns”, Griffith noted.
He stressed that public–private collaboration is essential to maintaining visitor confidence and reinforcing Barbados’s reputation as a secure and hospitable destination.
“Through stronger partnerships with the police and tourism agencies, preventative strategies, and clear communication channels, we will continue to deliver a safe and enjoyable experience for all,” he said.
Griffith highlighted the island’s international standing, noting that Barbados ranked in the top ten of the Caribbean Safe Travel Index 2025 for safety, emergency healthcare and hurricane resilience.
He reiterated that despite the challenges, Barbados remains a “largely safe country” for travellers. (SM)
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