The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) recently presented at the Virtuoso Forum Latin America & Caribbean in Cartagena, Colombia to showcase its latest offerings as Barbados welcomes back direct flights from Panama via Copa Airlines beginning June 15.
With borders reopened and travel continuing to thrive worldwide, BTMI promoted the island with destination product updates for travel advisors, including the Sweet Summer Savings campaign and the return of the iconic annual Crop Over Festival after a two-year hiatus.
Crop Over attracts thousands of visitors from across the globe who come to enjoy Barbadian heritage, culture, music, food and dance, every May through August. One of the Caribbean’s most culturally significant festivals, the 300-year-old tradition of Crop Over marks the end of the sugar cane growing season.
On June 15, twice-weekly flights will arrive from Panama City via Copa Airlines to the island, fostering a key gateway between Barbados and Latin America.
BTMI’s Director of Latin America and the Caribbean for Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Corey Garrett, who attended the forum stated: “Colombia is one of our target markets and one of the most exciting traveler bases worldwide. From our status as the Caribbean’s culinary capital, to our incredible beaches, sports culture and history, we’re confident that our unique offerings will attract this market. Bringing our exciting events and updates to the attendees of Virtuoso Forum LAC was an important next step for this market.”
Colombia and Latin America represent excellent business opportunities and access to relevant and qualified travel and tourism industry buyers, influencers, and professionals for Barbados.
The island aims to create business and investment opportunities in sports, production, and more as the destination continues diversifying its markets. Barbados is active in the market to support the new airlift and ensure a strong presence in Latin America, with hope that by 2030, such entrenched relationships can foster daily flights from the region.
Virtuoso is the industry’s leading Leisure Travel Network. Comprised of approximately 20,000 elite travel advisors in 22 countries and over 1,800 of the world’s best travel providers, including hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and premier destinations,
Virtuoso is an invitation-only organization. Membership in the grouping is limited to the top 1% of travel advisors, vendors, and properties and members combine for $30 billion in annual travel sales.
Participants of the forum heard that Barbados offers over 50 brilliant white-sand beaches, with any beach just a few minutes away. Its known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean and boasts over 70 world-class dining options. The island has a strong infrastructure, ample hotel offerings, historical sites, and a range of sports and activities including polo, cricket, golf, snorkeling, plus shopping, music and annual events.
During the forum, BTMI sponsored a dinner where guests enjoyed the smooth Bajan rhythms of the island’s own Dwayne Jones on the steelpan.