Bridgetown.
Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy, is predicting that the winter tourism season this year will be much better than last year with airline flights, he however warned that cruise ship visitors are likely to drop.
According to the Minister, more airline flights were scheduled from the island's main market Britain , while growth in the North American market via Jet Blue, WestJet and Air Canada are expected to continue.
Sealy added that having recently attended the World Travel Market (WTM) predictions for the coming winter season was encouraging.
"On the basic of what our partners have been telling us, this winter season will be an improvement on last year. There were a number of very encouraging developments coming out of WTM", Sealy said.
The Minister noted that ten British Airways (BA) flights would be dedicated to Barbados this winter, unlike last year when the island shared five BA flights and had only seven dedicated to this destination, while Virgin Atlantic will maintian its schedule of nine flights weekly from London and Manchester.
On cruise travel, Sealy said while the Carnival still docked on Wednesdays, the Royal Caribbean had decided to reposition its Sernade of the Seas, which will not be replaced until next summer.
"So we may see a fall off in terms of cruise numbers for this winter season but we have been doing all in our power to pick back up up as far as next winter season is concern. We need to look toward homeporting, curise and stay, we are working with our partners Barbados Port Inc, to see if we can get more of this business", says Sealy.
He was speaking to the media at Ocean 2 hotel.
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