Barbados Welcomes Caribbean Travel Marketplace

The 41st edition of Caribbean Travel Marketplace kicks off in Barbados today, marking the first time the destination is hosting the event.

“Currently more than 770 delegates have registered, representing 50 countries and nations,” Nicola Madden-Greig, president, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, tells PressToday. “We have new buyers registered from as far afield as Estonia, and we are pleased to note that participation from buyers in the U.K. is outpacing previous years.”

Ahead of the official opening ceremony tonight, the second annual Caribbean Travel Forum is taking place at Sandals Royal Barbados with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley headlining the event. Along with a state of the industry address, there will be discussions on topics like private-public partnership and responsible tourism.

“Demand for travel continues to grow and traveller expectations are evolving rapidly,” she says. “We anticipate this year’s event to generate a great deal of conversation about important topics such as global competition, tourism resilience and responsible tourism. The excitement is real and growing.”

Meanwhile, Madden-Greig noted that it’s significant for Barbados to be putting on the conference.

“This is exciting and significant because it affords a unique opportunity for the eastern Caribbean to showcase its incredible diversity and the depth of its tourism product,” she says.

“Beyond that, as the region’s largest B2B tourism event, Marketplace continues to serve as the leading platform for industry networking, information gathering, and sharing of ideas with peers and colleagues.”