Barbados’ Minister of Tourism, Ian Gooding-Edghill, has officially announced that the Caribbean nation will host the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2027, one of the most important commercial events in the regional tourism industry, bringing together destinations, airlines, hotels, tour operators, and international buyers. The event will take place from May 18 to 21, 2027, further consolidating Barbados as one of the leading hubs for business tourism in the Caribbean.

The announcement was made during the closing of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda, where the minister highlighted the strategic importance of the event for the development of tourism in the Caribbean and for strengthening Barbados’ position as a key destination for major international industry gatherings.

A key event for the Caribbean tourism industry

The Caribbean Travel Marketplace is considered the leading B2B platform for Caribbean tourism, focused on generating business opportunities, investments, and strategic partnerships among global industry stakeholders.

In this context, Gooding-Edghill emphasized that Barbados’ designation as the 2027 host represents a significant opportunity to boost tourism growth, strengthen regional connectivity, and enhance the destination’s global visibility in international markets.

Barbados as a regional hub

During his remarks, the minister noted that Barbados continues advancing its strategy to position itself as a hub for the Eastern Caribbean, facilitating air connectivity and developing multi-destination itineraries that integrate several islands across the region.

He also highlighted the growing importance of Latin America as a strategic source market for Caribbean tourism growth, alongside expanding air connections from Europe and North America.

The 2027 edition will allow Barbados to showcase its tourism infrastructure, hotel offerings, and organizational capacity to global industry leaders, while also generating direct economic opportunities for the local tourism ecosystem.

Gooding-Edghill added that hosting the Marketplace will also serve as a celebration of Caribbean culture, hospitality, and regional cooperation among destinations.

The announcement comes amid strong competition among Caribbean destinations to attract international events, increase air connectivity, and diversify source markets, with a particular focus on Latin America and Europe.