Élan Mottley Harris, Director, Barbados Tourism Advertising Inc
Barbados strengthens its reference to the British and Irish journey industries because it seems forward to a milestone 2026 marking 60 years of independence and 5 years of republic. After the success of the Bajan Safari Roadshow In Dublin, Scotland, Liverpool and Southampton, Élan Mottley Harris discusses the newest developments in tourism, cultural enchantment, resort investments, sustainability initiatives and the experiences that can outline Barbados within the coming yr.
BTN:
The Bajan Safari has turn into a preferred occasion on the Nice Britain and Eire journey calendar. What was the principle goal of the roadshow this yr?
Elan Motley Harris:
“The important thing intention of our UK and Eire roadshow is to carry collectively the journey trade, key stakeholders and media in a single place, offering a platform to showcase the newest developments in Barbados, share our imaginative and prescient for the vacation spot and foster the significant relationships that underpin our long-term success on this market.”
BTN:
This yr the Bajan Safari visited Dublin, Scotland, Liverpool and Southampton. Why is it essential for Barbados to attach instantly with journey brokers and companions in these areas?
Elan Motley Harris:
“Every metropolis was chosen with actual strategic intent. Dublin represents a big and rising alternative to have interaction Irish travellers. Scotland and Liverpool are equally essential as they hyperlink on to Manchester Airport and mirror our dedication to partaking the journey trade within the north of the UK, and never simply London. Southampton, we all know it is all the time enjoyable to be within the south, so we wished to finish in a enjoyable, vibrant place. The fact is that we might have visited many extra cities, however inside our timeframe these 4 places gave us the best attain and impression. In the end, we Barbados’ development will depend on our journey companions. Assembly them instantly is the best solution to showcase and share among the fantastic issues Barbados has to supply.”
BTN:
The occasion will showcase Barbadian meals, drinks and leisure alongside vacation spot updates. How does bringing Barbados tradition to the roadshow assist journey advisors higher promote the island?
Elan Motley Harris:
“By bringing our meals, music and tradition to the UK market, we’re about giving journey advisors an actual style of what awaits their shoppers. When an agent has personally skilled Barbadian rum, delicacies and hospitality, even whether it is in London or Dublin, they will communicate in regards to the vacation spot with genuine enthusiasm and confidence. What we current on the roadshow is only a glimpse. Our intention is to convey that when guests arrive on the island, these experiences are amplified tenfold, with distilleries from world class, celebrated mixologists and a culinary scene that continues to evolve and shock.”
BTN:
What thrilling developments or bulletins can vacationers anticipate from Barbados in 2026?
Elan Motley Harris:
“2026 is a milestone yr for Barbados. We mark our sixtieth anniversary of independence and our fifth yr as a republic, a second of immense nationwide pleasure that shall be woven into our occasions, tradition and customer experiences all yr lengthy. For vacationers, it represents a uncommon alternative to expertise Barbados at its most festive and most genuine, to face alongside Barbadians as we honor our historical past, our identification and the journey that introduced us to this milestone.”
BTN:
Are there any new lodges, resorts or main renovations that the journey trade ought to have on its radar?
Elan Motley Harris:
“Important funding is being made in Barbados. The Marriott Group has reopened a few of their superbly refurbished merchandise. There are additionally fairly a lot of new properties coming to Barbados, unfold throughout the west, south and east coasts, every including one thing distinctive to the vacation spot’s providing. The developments on the east coast are significantly thrilling and characterize a extra sustainable, nature-led method to tourism that introduces guests to a country, wilder aspect of the island that has historically been much less accessible. This growth of our lodging providing signifies that vacationers can now actually expertise Barbados throughout the total width of the island, with every coast providing its personal character, environment and enchantment.”
BTN:
Barbados is thought for its seashores, however the island gives a lot extra. What experiences do you assume will outline a Barbados vacation in 2026?
Elan Motley Harris:
“At its core, a vacation in Barbados is all the time outlined by the individuals. Barbadians are the warmest, most hospitable individuals. A Barbadian will keep in mind your title and make you’re feeling much less like a vacationer and extra like a pal. It is that non-public connection – the bartender who remembers how you’re taking your drink, the neighbor who waves howdy if you go by, that turns a vacation into one thing rather more significant. No matter brings a customer to the island, whether or not it is the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket is in September, Crop Over in August or just the will to discover, what stays fixed is the heat, generosity and spirit of Barbadians. That human connection is one thing no different vacation spot can replicate, and it’s what turns first-time guests into lifelong advocates for the island.
BTN:
Sustainability continues to form journey choices. What initiatives is Barbados specializing in main as much as 2026?
Elan Motley Harris:
“Sustainability is embedded in the way in which Barbados thinks about its future and isn’t handled as a separate agenda. From farm-to-table meals initiatives, championed by eating places like Native & Co, to Walker’s Reserve, which was acknowledged in 2025 with the Regenerative Journey Award for reworking a former sand quarry right into a thriving ecological and agro-forestry web site – by way of to our ongoing marine and coral conservation packages, Barbados is taking a very multifaceted method. These aren’t the stand-alone tasks – they mirror a nationwide dedication to make sure that tourism enhances slightly than depletes the island’s pure and cultural belongings.”
BTN:
The UK stays one among Barbados’ most essential markets. What tendencies are you seeing amongst British vacationers in the mean time?
Elan Motley Harris:
“Barbados continues to have a powerful, aspirational enchantment amongst British travellers, and we’re seeing some fascinating shifts within the customer profile. Youthful vacationers are more and more selecting Barbados, drawn by the island’s tradition, meals scene and vibrant competition and sporting calendar. As well as, our loyal base of repeat guests stays robust as ever, testomony to the truth that Barbados is a vacation spot that rewards repeat visits. The depth and breadth of what the island has to supply means there may be all the time extra to find. Many vacationers are beginning out Barbados is a lot greater than only a seaside vacation spot, whether or not they’re discovering our wealthy cultural heritage, exploring the island’s many stunning gardens or benefiting from the east coast’s thriving browsing scene.”
BTN:
Festivals, tradition and gastronomy are all a part of the island’s enchantment. Are there any occasions or experiences that guests ought to pay specific consideration to within the coming yr?
Elan Motley Harris:
“The wonderful thing about Barbados is that we’re busy all yr spherical. You’ll be able to all the time discover one thing to do, to focus on only a few of the fantastic occasions we have now in 2026 are Run Barbados and Wellness in December, our annual Crop Over competition ranging from early July by way of to the primary weekend of August. We’re additionally lucky to have the ability to host the knockout levels and grand ultimate for CPL Cricket, an thrilling cricket competitors. We even have the Meals & Rum Pageant in November, a phenomenal celebration that highlights the range of our delicacies, from high-quality eating to avenue meals and the truth that we’re the birthplace of rum Lastly, BTMI not too long ago launched the Dine With A Bajan initiative, Barbados’ first platform devoted to connecting guests with genuine home-cooked Bajan eating experiences.
BTN:
Lastly, should you had one message for the British and Irish journey trade about Barbados in 2026, what wouldn’t it be?
Elan Motley Harris:
“Merely this: if you have not skilled Barbados but, that is the yr to vary that. And should you’ve visited earlier than, you realize the island all the time has one thing new to supply. You are all the time welcome in Barbados!”
Interviewed by Sid Thaker