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Tourism remains the backbone of Barbados’ economy. Since the 1970s, tourism has been a critical driver of economic growth and foreign exchange earnings, contributing an average of 50 percent of export revenues. The sector has continuously evolved, attracting visitors primarily from the UK, US, CARICOM, and Canada, which have remained the dominant source markets. While visitor dynamics have shifted over time, the UK has been a key market since the mid-1990s, accounting for an average of 36 percent of arrivals from 1994 to 2024.
Air connectivity is pivotal to tourism demand and economic performance. The availability of airlift capacity directly influences access to destinations and the affordability of travel, making it a critical enabler of Barbados’ tourism growth. Factors such as airline seating capacity, the economic conditions of source markets, paid leave availability, and competitor developments all shape tourism demand. Improved air connectivity is also strongly correlated with economic growth, as noted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For small island nations like Barbados, air connectivity drives job creation, supports tourism-related industries, and boosts overall economic activity.
Barbados has significantly expanded airlift capacity from the USA in recent years. Since 2015, airlift capacity has more than doubled, increasing by an average of 22.4 percent annually (excluding the pandemic period, 2020–2022). This expansion has supported annual long-stay arrival growth of 8.8 percent over the same period. By the end of 2024, airlift seating capacity from the USA surged, with capacity 11.7 percent higher than the previous peak in 2019. Increased operations by carriers such as American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta, United Airlines, and Frontier drove this growth, resulting in record-breaking long-stay arrivals from the USA, which grew from a pre-pandemic average of 203,972 visitors (2017–2019) to 228,128 visitors in 2024.
The recovery in airlift capacity post-pandemic underpins future growth opportunities. Enhanced airlift has been instrumental in boosting Barbados’ visitor arrivals and supporting the broader economy. However, source markets face varying economic challenges that could impact future demand. To sustain momentum, Barbados must continuously refine its tourism strategies to align with evolving market trends and visitor preferences. Strengthening partnerships with international carriers will also be critical to maintaining long-term growth in arrivals and ensuring the resilience of the tourism sector.