It appears the Barbados Tourism Product Authority (The BTPA) and the Barbados Tourism Management Incorporated (The BTMI) appear to be at variance when it concerns the widening of the Caribbean’s scope of destinations.

During a Q&A session at Hilton Barbados’ Grille Restaurant, BajanReporter.com posed the fact JetBlue is now offering direct flights to Jet Blue and would Barbados look to regain market share before or after guests see Havana…

Dr Kerry Hall, CEO of the BTPA chose a direct and assertive method of examining the issue.

She says if this country can back the quality campaigning it puts forward then there is no need for undue concern, just some requisite monitoring of trends and preferences – in fact, as far as she’s concerned if Barbados promotes itself correctly and ensures the hype is based on solid facts not gimmicks then repeat clientele will combat any Latin surge.

The BTMI executive was relating to media on claims of high tourism growth at the just concluded State Of The Industry Conference.

Griffith said initial figures for January to August showed the island’s tourism continued to grow following last year’s record-breaking 591,000 long-stay arrivals.

He said Barbados achieved 421,914 long-stay visitors and it translates to approximately 22,000 increased visitor arrivals so far for the year, although 2016 is not yet over and figures remain fluid at this point.