BARBADOS CALLING: WE GATHERIN’ 2025 CELEBRATES HERITAGE WITH TRAVEL GIVEAWAY AND PODCAST LAUNCH

The initiatives are part of We Gatherin’ 2025, a yearlong celebration of Barbadian heritage, culture, and community spirit that invites nationals, citizens, and descendants of Barbados to return home and participate in festivities held across every parish.

Barbados and Ireland share a lesser-known but significant historical connection dating back to the 17th century, when Irish indentured servants were brought to the island during colonial times. Today, that link endures through cultural exchanges and a small but longstanding Irish expat community in Barbados, which contributes to the island’s diverse social fabric.

This shared heritage adds a meaningful layer to We Gatherin’ 2025, especially as Barbados reaches out to diaspora communities with deep, historic ties.

Barbados Calling – We Gatherin’ 2025

This exciting promotion gives eligible members of the Barbadian diaspora the chance to win a trip for two to Barbados, complete with airline tickets, seven nights of hotel accommodation, complimentary dining experiences, and vouchers for local attractions.

“This campaign presents the perfect chance for Bajans living abroad to return home to their roots and experience the island in a new and thrilling way,” said Ms. Andrea Franklin, CEO of BTMI. “We’re proud to partner with our tourism stakeholders to bring this initiative to life and look forward to welcoming our winners back home to our 166 square miles of paradise.”

Eligibility & Draw Details:

The competition is open to Barbadians living in Ireland, the UK, Continental Europe, Canada, USA, the Caribbean, and Latin America, including those with Barbadian ancestry. Barbadian residents are not eligible.

There will be three prize draws, with six winners selected per draw, totalling 18 winners. Entry deadlines and draw dates are as follows:

– Draw 1: Entry closes May 31st | Draw date: June 6th

– Draw 2: Entry closes July 31st | Draw date: August 8th

– Draw 3: Entry closes September 30th | Draw date: October 3rd

Winners must be available to travel between November 15th and December 15th, 2025. To enter, visit: www.wegatherinbim.com/promo

We Gatherin’ Podcast: Home Drums

As part of its multimedia storytelling approach, BTMI has also launched the “Home Drums” podcast—a heartfelt series capturing the voices and journeys of the Barbadian diaspora as they rediscover their homeland.

Hosted by Barbadian media personality Chrissy D, the podcast features compelling stories from artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, and everyday Bajans living abroad. Each episode explores their personal connections to Barbados, their identity, and their homecoming experience.

The debut episode, “From Brooklyn to Bridgetown: Marcus Callender’s Bajan Roots,” follows the Brooklyn-born Barbadian actor as he reconnects with his island heritage.

“The Home Drums podcast is an extraordinary platform that allows us to showcase the authentic voices of our diaspora and their connections to Barbados,” said Franklin. “Each month, as we welcome Barbadians home for We Gatherin’ 2025, we hope this podcast will serve as a powerful reminder of the island’s influence on generations of Bajans around the world.”

The podcast is available for streaming on Spotify and viewing via the Visit Barbados YouTube Channel. Tune in here: https://wegatherinbim.com/home-drums-podcast

Together, the Barbados Calling promotion and Home Drums podcast provide meaningful ways for Barbadians across the globe to engage with the island’s culture, share their stories, and be part of a year that promises celebration, unity, and homecoming.

For full details on We Gatherin’ 2025 and monthly parish events, visit: www.wegatherinbim.com

Local PR Contact:

Colm McDonnell

Account Executive

Email: colm@travelmedia.ie

Phone: +353 86 011 1871

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The island of Barbados is a Caribbean gem rich in cultural, heritage, sporting, culinary and eco experiences. It is surrounded by idyllic white sand beaches and is the only coral island in the Caribbean. With over 400 restaurants and eateries, Barbados is the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean and home to the Caribbean’s Best Culinary Festival, the Barbados Food and Rum Festival. The island is also known as the birthplace of rum, commercially producing and bottling the finest blends since the 1700s.

The island also hosts events like the annual Crop Over Festival, where A-lists celebrities like our very own Rihanna are often spotted, and the annual Run Barbados Marathon, the largest marathon in the Caribbean. As the motorsport island, it is home to the leading circuit-racing facility in the English-speaking Caribbean. Known as a sustainable destination, Barbados won the Green Destinations Story Award for Environment and Climate in 2023 and was listed as one of the Best World Travel Destinations for 2025 by National Geographic. Accommodations on the island are wide and varied, ranging from picturesque private villas to quaint boutique hotels, cozy Airbnbs, prestigious international chains and award-winning five-diamond resorts. Travelling to this paradise is a breeze as the Grantley Adams International Airport offers a variety non-stop and direct services from growing U.S., U.K., Canadian, Caribbean, European, and Latin American gateways. Arriving by ship is also easy as Barbados is a marquee port with calls from the world’s best cruise and luxury liners. So, it’s about time that you Visit Barbados and experience all that this 166-square-mile isle has to offer.

For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org, follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VisitBarbados, and via Twitter @Barbados.