Barbados going after home porting market to boost cruise tourism

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- Home porting has climbed to the top of Barbados’ cruise tourism agenda and very soon the island will be engaging one of the world’s largest cruise operators to boost business to the island.

Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy recently revealed that a meeting has been scheduled between Barbados’ Prime Minister, David Thompson and president of British-based P&O Cruises, David Dingle, to promote Barbados as the most significant home port after Puerto Rico in the Caribbean.

“Because we are so far from North America, unless you are talking about a 7 – 10-day cruise, Barbados cannot compete because it is so far south. So we are pitching our tent where we are strongest.”

Sealy added that cruising as a vacation is currently on the rise and Barbados has been a recipient of that increased business. He added that this was encouraging considering the present challenges affecting land-based visitor arrivals.

In 2008, 597,523 cruise passengers visited the island and by 2009 that number is predicted to grow significantly. Among the reasons the minister cited as drivers for this positive pattern of growth include the fact that “we are still a very attractive stop; the increase in home porting is another factor; and cruises are growing overall internationally”.