According to Barbados regional news provider Caribbean360, the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) and the Ministry of Tourism are projecting record cruise traffic in 2010-2011.
Barbados saw a 5% increase in traffic in 2009, which is one of the indicators that between 2010 and 2011 the island should expect to see 800,000 cruise visitors, and possibly as many as 900,000.
Barbados has recognized the importance of making itself a desirable cruise destination, especially since the annual cruise traffic is higher than airline traffic to the island. Part of the plan is to increase the number of home porting ships, which would increase business to local suppliers. Studies show that up to 40% of visitors are not part of organized group activities, and Barbados is working to tap that market as well.
Barbados is located just east of the Caribbean Sea, and is an independent West Indian Continental Island-nation in the western Atlantic Ocean. Its closest island neighbors are Saint Vincent & the Grenadines and Saint Lucia to the west. To the south of Barbados lies Trinidad and Tobago.
Source: Caribbean360