Visit Barbados, the official tourism authority of the Caribbean island country, is partnering with Dubai-based dnata Representation Services to launch a campaign to attract GCC travellers. Renowned for its 80-plus beaches, recognised as some of the world’s most beautiful, its capital Bridgetown – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and more, the highlights of the island are set to be on display at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023 in Dubai.
Visit Barbados has unveiled its debut showcase at the Middle East’s leading travel industry event, running 1st to 4th May at the Dubai World Trade Centre. In the style of a luxurious villa, with coral limestone finishings and jalousie-style windows, its stand at the event is designed around classic Bajan architecture, showcasing both the luxury accommodation and world-class experiences Barbados has to offer.
Through each window of its ‘villa’, visitors can experience a taste of island life through curated imagery, from ‘toes in the sand dining’ on the West Coast of Barbados, also known as its ‘Platinum Coast’, to surfing on its more rugged East Coast at the world-famous ‘Soup Bowl’, an iconic surf break in the small village of Bathsheba. The Visit Barbados team will also be on-hand throughout the event alongside its partners at dnata, to meet with the region’s travel industry.
Barbados Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill, commented: “For Barbados, the GCC represents a largely untapped source market. Travellers from this region have a high propensity to travel and are keen on exploring new destinations with sophisticated experiences, rich culture, and adventurous activities. Barbados presents an alluring long-haul holiday destination, from our first-class resort and villa product, enviable position as the ‘Culinary Capital of the Caribbean’, a wide range of fantastic attractions and experiences, and excellent one-stop connectivity to the Middle East.
“Our stand at ATM Dubai 2023 is designed to immerse guests in Barbados and its finest experiences, with the hope they’ll be inspired to visit the island in person very soon.”
Travellers from the GCC can connect to the Caribbean island of Barbados via key gateways in London, New York City, Toronto, Amsterdam, and Panama City. The island has robust air connectivity with many of the world’s major cities, with a view to expand this in the near term.
Rakhi Purohit, Head of Representation Services at dnata, added: “Barbados has a wealth of fantastic hotels, from boutique luxury properties along the West Coast, to five-star all-inclusive options on the South Coast. Incredible luxury villas also span the length and breadth of the island. Working with dnata Representation Services, Barbados will be promoted at ATM Dubai to the travel and tourism industry as a high-value, sophisticated and multi-faceted destination. In-focus will include the island’s impressive luxury accommodation product, fabulous gastronomic scene, and its wide range of unique activities and attractions, from Barbados Sailing Week to an eco-adventure experience at Harrison’s Cave, and beyond.”
