Winter Visitor Arrivals Boost Barbados Tourism Ahead of World Cup: Record Numbers but Decreasing Hotel Occupancy

Visitor arrivals here during the winter season are warming the cockles of tourism officials’ hearts, as records tumble for the first two months of this year.

But even as more visitors arrived, fewer were apparently staying in hotel accommodation, according to figures, which was attributed to a rise in the number of available rooms.

Nonetheless, officials are upbeat about the prospects for a continuing upswing as the island prepares to host the ICC’s Men T20 World Cup in June, in the hopes of boosting the relatively slower summer season.

“The Barbados Statistical Service as of yesterday, indicates arrivals in January of 73 693 and February 74 010 which would represent the highest arrival numbers for this island in that period over the past five years,” said Renee Coppin, the outgoing chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) on Thursday.

But occupancy levels for the same period were down with the latest Smith Travel Report (STR) showing a performance of 73.7 per cent in January, a drop of 6.8 per cent, and 78.3 per cent in February, a decline of 8.2 per cent.

Figures on visitor spending were not immediately available.

Coppin sought to explain that as Average Daily Rates (ADRs) registered increased in both months, the total number of rooms has increased as new hotels came on stream over the past few months.

Bookings for the next three months are rising, she said, expressing optimism of a strong performance when the World Cup comes to town.

“With the World Cup in June, we hope to see an increase in business during that month,” said Coppin. “Currently both April and May business on the books is pacing ahead of last year. Our last projection for business on the books in June 2024 was 43 per cent which is nine per cent above what we were projecting for the same period in 2023.”

The tourism executive attributed the increase in business to ongoing efforts by the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and the Ministry of Tourism to lure more airlift to the island.

Coppin outlined new airlift from the island’s key markets that will make for a promising winter season, including more flights from both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic from October.

British Airways, which is suspending its London Gatwick to Barbados flight while boosting its London Heathrow service to Barbados to twice daily, will fly into the island with a total of 472 seats a day. Similarly, Virgin Atlantic is set to resume double daily services from London Heathrow to Barbados leading to a total of 526 seats a day.

“We are projected to have 75 406 seats a month in winter 24/25 from the United Kingdom. This includes all scheduled flights (41 506 seats) plus charter flights by TUI from nine UK cities (33 900 seats),” said Coppin, adding that she is also looking forward to more US business this winter season.

“We are projected to have approximately 44 502 seats a month in winter 24/25 from the United States. Overall, on Saturdays from December 21, 2024, we are poised to have 12 flights from the USA to Barbados. Six American, three JetBlue, two Delta, one United. The previous high point for Barbados was January 2019 when we recorded 38 163 seats from the USA.”