Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill announced historic growth in the tourism sector, revealing that Barbados closed the previous year with its highest-ever visitor arrivals.

Speaking at the Gallagher BTMI BHTA Tourism Awards Gala ceremony on Saturday night, the minister praised the industry’s resilience and strategic airlift expansion. He revealed that the island welcomed an unprecedented 727 310 long-stay visitors alongside 817 950 cruise arrivals.

“Tourism earnings contribute approximately 45 per cent to our GDP,” Minister Gooding-Edghill stated, emphasising that the sector remains “absolutely the backbone of the Barbadian economy”.