Barbados recorded its best ever performance for tourism arrivals last year, with more than 729 000 long-stay visitors.
It surpassed the previous record of 704 340 in 2024 and, according to the Central Bank of Barbados, it represents a 3.3 per cent year-on-year growth, which went up by 22 970 visitors to reach 729 310 arrivals.
Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Javon Griffith described it as a“strong performance, underpinned by discipline, resilience and strategic focus”.
In his report delivered at the first BHTA quarterly meeting for the year at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre recently, he noted last year’s record growth was driven primarily by the United States market, which expanded by just over eight per cent, while the Canadian market had “remained strong” with over 90 000 visitors for the year. Arrivals from Europe also increased and CARICOM markets supplied “over 98 000 visitors”, he added.
Griffith said the outlook for 2026 was “cautiously optimistic” with several positive initiatives in train, such as new hotel developments, refurbishment of many properties and a vital increase in airlift from major source markets.
He pointed out there was “growing opportunity in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East” which were strategically important.
However, the chairman cautioned that all that progress could be derailed by Barbados’ current traffic congestion problem and called on the authorities to address the matter as it was “a direct threat to productivity”.
“Across our hotels and tourism businesses, we are already seeing the effects – increased staff lateness, operational delays and growing frustration among team members who are doing their best to show up and deliver excellence, but are being hindered by circumstances beyond their control.”
Griffith contended that in an industry where “timing, service standards and guest experiences are everything”, the disruptions mattered. “They affect how we operate, how we serve and ultimately how we compete.”
It was a situation, he continued, which required “urgent, coordinated intervention”.
Griffith said Barbados was now “in clear need of a modern, comprehensive traffic plan”.
“If we are to continue growing our tourism sector, improving national productivity . . . then resolving our traffic challenges must become a national priority,” he said.
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