Barbados posted a 5% annual increase in stay-over arrivals in 2017, representing an all-time high.
Leading the way was cruise traffic which grew 12.9% to 818,752 cruise arrivals while air arrivals at Grantley Adams International Airport was up more than 30,000 to 663,441.
"It is never easy as a mature tourism destination to maintain growth at these levels in the competitive business landscape in which we operate, but I am pleased that through strategic marketing efforts we have once again proven Barbados’ value," said minister of tourism and international transport, the Honourable Richard Sealy.
Top market again was the UK with a third of market share, just ahead of the US.
US visitor arrivals grew by 11.7%.
"I must commend our tourism teams both here and in our global offices, whose efforts were instrumental in us achieving this record 5% growth," Sealy added.
Sealy noted the need to continually add more airlift to achieve targets going forward and touted the new Copa Airlines twice weekly Barbados-Panama service beginning in July.
He commended the ‘positive new developments happening across the island’ which has seen new resorts open including the new Sandals Royal and the reopening of Sea Breeze, Fairmont Royal Pavilion and more.
"We have high hopes for our new airline partnerships, new hotel accommodations, new product development, and other new marketing activities in which we will be engaging across our source markets."
