In what could be categorised as a pyrrhic victory for the Caribbean tourism industry, it now seems plausible that the 2022/23 winter tourism season could be extended by an additional month, resulting from the vagaries of climate change.

Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Lisa Cummins says “we expect that number [passengers] will increase as the winter season is expected to be extended by an additional month . . . The expectation is that with climate change and Europe remaining colder for longer, the ships are finding that potentially they will stay in the Caribbean for at least another month and the expectation is that we could hit at least 850 000 passengers by the end of the cruise season.”

Minister Cummins notes that following a bleak summer period in Barbados, “we are expecting to have a total over the course of the year of 390 vessel calls, taking us up to 739,557 passengers.”

Following a bleak summer period, close to 400 cruise ships carrying more than 700 000 passengers are expected to dock in Bridgetown between November this year and April 2023.

Cruise vessels homeporting in Barbados

The tourism minister announced that the Caymanian Ritz Carlton Yacht Collections would be making Barbados its homeport for the winter season with 20 sailings to Bridgetown, adding that the MSC Seaside, Seabourn Ovation and Evrima would be docking there as well.

Cummins said this is a great opportunity for craftsmen and women, who work in Pelican Village to cash in on the active winter season, noting that water sports operators, beach vendors, and those who operate in The City should be able to benefit.

According to the senator, the tourism services were developed into a single cooperative model that allowed for the benefits of the cruise industry to be distributed to large players and small operators equally.