Reasons to visit Barbados, the jewel of the Caribbean in 2024

• This year, the island will host a spectacular lineup for festivals, luxurious stays and new culinary experiences
• Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI) is set to captivate visitors by showcasing the island’s vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes and warm hospitality

Barbados, the jewel of the Caribbean, is set to enchant visitors in 2024 with an exciting array of events, luxurious accommodations, and culinary experiences that showcase the island’s rich culture and warm hospitality.

Upcoming global events:

Crop Over Festival – July and August

The annual Crop Over Festival which is considered the cultural heartbeat of Barbados, reaches its apex in early August. Commemorating the end of a successful sugarcane harvest, this three-month celebration culminates in July and August. Experience a fusion of contemporary Barbadian culture and historical sugarcane influences through parades, music, and vibrant costumes.

In November, Barbados becomes a culinary mecca with the Food & Rum Festival, attracting chefs of local and international acclaim. The festival has been internationally recognised as the Best Culinary Festival in the Caribbean of 2023. Festival-goers can indulge in the best of international cuisine, witness cooking demonstrations by top chefs, and savour the epicurean delights for which Barbados is renowned.

Join the running extravaganza at Run Barbados, featuring a variety of races for local and international participants. The event offers scenic running routes and a festive atmosphere that aims to drive maximum participation and enjoyment.

Luxurious stays and upgrades:

The island is gearing up for an exceptional addition to its accommodations with the upcoming launch of Hotel Indigo, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, featuring 132 rooms and is set to open its doors in time for Christmas 2024. Several renowned resorts have also undergone exciting upgrades including Little Good Harbour’s pool refurbishment and a new beach dining experience. Sugar Cane Club’s enhanced their Gully Walk experience, upgraded Sandy’s Chattel Bar, and a brand new beach facility, Sand Street Bistro.

Unmissable activities:

Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in captivating attractions beyond the Barbados beaches. The island welcomes tourists to create unforgettable experiences that will leave cherished memories:

• The magnificent Harrison’s Cave Eco-Adventure Park has embarked on the expansive development of Harrison’s Cave Eco Adventure Park. From zip-lines to rum tasting and gully swings, the park has created Barbados’ first ever eco adventure attraction on the historical limestone property of Harrison’s Cave.
• Barbados is regarded as a world-class Motor Sports destination and Bushy Park is the premier motor sport facility. This race circuit has hosted major international events like the Top Gear Festival, the Race of Champions and Red Bull Global Rallycross Competition.
• Aboard the famed Atlantis Submarine, diving to 150 feet below the ocean’s surface, and dine on perfectly prepared sushi rolls, with a choice of wines or prosecco.
• Walkers Reserve continues its mission to create regenerative spaces rich in biodiversity where individuals can connect and reconnect to the environment, while building more resilient economies, ecosystems, and communities.

Indulge in culinary elegance:

Visitors looking to explore Barbados’ vibrant culinary scene can add these exciting new additions to their hit list:

• The new Zemi Café at The Hillcrest Community Centre in Bathsheba offers fantastic food, warm Bajan hospitality, and breathtaking views
• Calma Beach Club in Holetown, on the famous West Coast, is a new beach club providing fresh and delicious food paired with cocktails against the backdrop of the Caribbean sea
• BAIA in Speightstown draws on the richness of Peruvian cuisine, offering a delectable fusion menu in a stunning beachfront setting
• Bearded Rose, Timothy Oulton’s first Caribbean restaurant in Barbados, provides an exceptional culinary journey in an alfresco courtyard oasis
• Local and Co has set as its ethos, food sustainability, prioritising and elevating the use of locally sourced produce, from land to sea – hence the very apt name. The menu changes frequently, offering a new dazzling seasonal option to try each time you visit

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For more information on Barbados, please contact Colm McDonnell colm@travelmedia.ie

About Barbados

The island of Barbados offers a unique Caribbean experience steeped in rich history and colourful culture, and rooted in remarkable landscapes. Barbados is the home of two of the three remaining Jacobean Mansions left in the Western hemisphere, as well as fully functional rum distilleries. In fact, this island is known as the birthplace of rum, commercially producing and bottling the spirit since the 1700s. Each year, Barbados hosts several world-class events including the annual Barbados Food and Rum Festival; the annual Barbados Reggae Festival; and the annual Crop Over Festival, where celebrities such as Lewis Hamilton and its very own Rihanna are often spotted. Accommodations are wide and varied, ranging from picturesque plantation houses and villas to quaint bed and breakfast gems; prestigious international chains; and award-winning five-diamond resorts. In 2018, Barbados’ accommodation sector captured 13 awards in the Top Hotels Overall, Luxury, All-Inclusive, Small, Best Service, Bargain, and Romance categories of the ‘Traveler’s Choice Awards’. And getting to paradise is a breeze: the Grantley Adams International Airport offers plenty non-stop and direct services from a growing number of U.S., U.K., Canadian, Caribbean, European, and Latin American gateways, making Barbados the true gateway to the Eastern Caribbean. Visit Barbados and experience why for two years in a row it won the prestigious Star Winter Sun Destination Award at the ‘Travel Bulletin Star Awards’ in 2017 and 2018. For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org, follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VisitBarbados, and via Twitter @Barbados.