BTMI aiming to woo regional tourists

The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) is embarking on a new digital advertising plan to promote Barbados as the destination of choice for regional travellers.

The Isle Away Campaign aims to attract persons looking to escape to somewhere that “feels just like home and is near to home”.

Director for the Caribbean and Latin America at BTMI, Corey Garrett, made the announcement during the InterCaribbean Breakfast Event at The Abidah by Accra Hotel yesterday.

He said the Caribbean destination brand will be introduced on a social network that BTMI launched a few years ago, a page that already has a following of about 12 000 and is growing.

“When we speak to our Caribbean traveller we will also speak to destination weddings; we will speak about all the bank holidays and long weekends; we will of course speak to our retirees who are just looking for a quick getaway because Barbados is an isle away, just a destination away. Millennials of course are included; we speak to the culinary aspects of Barbados on this page, and of course our business and our connectivity…Regional travel is now key, you have to be just an isle away.

“Also, when we speak to our Caribbean travellers, there is the recently launched Barbados Welcome Stamp, need I remind you of the existence of the CARICOM Skills Certificate – so all are welcome,” he said.

Garrett further revealed that the Isle Away Campaign is based on an initial consumer offer with InterCaribbean, where they are hoping to offer discounts of up to US$50 or more off the airline ticket.

In addition, the campaign is seeking to partner with the accommodation sector. “We expect and hope of course that our friends at the Barbados Hotel Association will come on board and we are looking for discounts up to 25 per cent.

“We are looking to entice persons to add that value-added component to destination Barbados when you come to Barbados,” he said.