Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Lisa Cummins, has disclosed that Barbados’ sea and air arrival passengers for 2022 look ‘healthy’.
She was speaking this morning, at the State of the Industry media briefing at Hilton Barbados Resort.
Noting that the industry is looking to diversify its product and go beyond tourists’ arrivals as a measure of success, Senator Cummins, released the projected figures for 2022.
“We project a healthy 2022 for Barbados in terms of our estimated seat capacity with a projected total of 846,413. We expect that the United States will continue to be our biggest producer with 279,714; followed by the United Kingdom with a seat capacity of 258,106,” Minister Cummins said.
She also noted that in June of this year Barbados would see a return of Copa Airlines from Panama City.
With regards to the cruise industry, the Tourism Minister shared that for summer 2022, there are five vessel calls scheduled. As for the winter season 2022/2023, she said Barbados should have 390 vessel calls, with sailing capacity expected to reach 80 per cent, and this includes the possible start of P&O vessel Ariva homeporting in Barbados.
Senator Cummins, however, pointed out that these projections could be impacted by what is happening in Eastern Europe, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
She revealed that for the period January to February 2022, preliminary in-house figures have shown that Barbados has attracted some 67,463 stayover visitors, an increase of 61,672 visitors, when compared to the corresponding period of 2021.
This was attributed to not only the winter season 2021/2022, but to the hosting of cricket matches and Round Barbados Sailing Week.