Barbados does not intend to stop wooing travellers from the United States in favour of trying to get more visitors from the expanding Latin America market.But acknowledging the potential of that source market, chief executive officer of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) Dr Jens Thraenhart says visitors from that country could be targeted to fill voids left during the low season.“I think these other source markets may be looking at different products and experiences than the traditional source markets that come in the winter…. So I think there’s definitely potential there,” he told Barbados TODAY during the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace which was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico this week.“There’s a lot of opportunity, especially going into what we call the low season because I think what we’re trying to do – and the potential is there – is to really make [Barbados] an all-season destination, and we’re looking at source markets like South America, or even Africa or parts of Europe.”Thraenhart said airlift is an important factor and the Copa Airlines flights from Panama which started mid-year served as “a great connection” to South America.
