Buoyed by an expanding flight schedule and an upswing in cruise ship visitors, Barbados is reporting increased tourism activity compared with 2023, the country’s top tourism official said in a legislative address this week.

Ian Gooding-Edghill, Barbados’ minister of tourism and international transport, cited “notable boosts in airlift from key source markets” as responsible for “a resurgence in arrival numbers towards pre-COVID levels.”

Compared with 2023, Barbados will welcome additional flights from American Airlines, Delta Airlines, JetBlue and Air Canada, said Gooding-Edghill. He added that “65,000 additional seats” will be dedicated to Barbados flights this coming winter.

Delta Airlines will also offer additional Saturday flights from John F. Kennedy International from Nov. 5, 2024 and Saturday flights from Philadelphia beginning November 9.

“We are encouraged, not satisfied, far less complacent,” said Gooding-Edghill. He cited “[the] number of airlines and vessels and their passengers that we have been attracting to Barbados in increasing numbers” as the source of his encouragement.

Delta Airlines will also provide a Saturday service from JFK from November 5, 2024 and a Saturday-only service from Philadelphia from November 9.

Gooding-Edghill said cruise passenger arrivals were poised to exceed last year’s numbers, with 826,338 passengers expected to call to Bridgetown this year, arriving on 338 calls. Last winter, the port hosted 373 calls carrying 661,635 passengers, he said.