Barbados’ 2023/2024 winter cruise season has surpassed expectations, achieving remarkable milestones.
Reports are that it has surpassed the statistics for the 2022/2023 period.
Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, revealed that the season’s projected 18 per cent year-on-year increase became a reality.
With 392 cruise calls and an estimated 715,527 passengers, the numbers outshone the previous year’s 358 calls and 608,269 passengers.
Mid-season glory
Mid-season data for October to December 2023 showed good results.
Barbados welcomed 131 calls, with 66 as homeports, boasting a remarkable 96 percent occupancy rate.
This translated into a warm welcome for 227,548 cruise passengers.
Minister Gooding-Edghill praised the industry’s resilience post-COVID-19, crediting the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., the Barbados Port Inc., and others for their dedication.
The minister shared that the tourism ministry will continue to explore opportunities and new ways of doing business to make a better tourism experience for its partners and visitors.
