BTMI Director Caribbean Corey Garrett, Managing Director of WCG Consulting William “Billy” Griffith and Country Manager Going Places Travel Barbados Alana Gray as they highlight the marketing strategies and packages being offered to tap into the regional market during a press briefing held yesterday.
HIgh interest in travel
COUNTRY Manager of Going Places Travel Barbados, Alana Gray, says there have been many enquiries for travel within the travel bubble.
Travel bubbles refer to the arrangements between countries for travellers to enter each other’s borders without the need for strict quarantines or at least very minimal periods of quarantine.
Her comments came yesterday as officials from Air Antilles announced a partnership with Going Places Travel during a joint press conference held at the Barbados Tourism and Marketing Inc’s headquarters. According to Gray, “People are missing their usual travel escapes due to the confinement of COVID-19 and the bubble countries present the safest option right now. We are seeing demand between Barbados and St. Lucia and Dominica.
“We are utilising Air Antilles routes between these islands that are also part of the travel bubble, along with our hotel partners and our network of offices throughout the region. The benefit of travelling within the bubble is that travellers are exempt from quarantine once their test is negative,” she said, adding “We are working on updating these packages to align with recent updates to the Barbados travel protocols.”
Giving an example of the two night/three day packages available, Gray noted that prices could be around USD$402 from Barbados to Dominica, which includes airfare, hotel accomodation, fees and taxes.
Gray said the travel agency will be partnering with Air Antilles on several exciting marketing initiatives and plans to run a promotion for the public over the coming months. “Now more than ever, travel advisors play a critical role in planning travel, whether it is for business or pleasure,” she said. Air Antilles currently offers eight weekly flights to St. Lucia, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and four weekly flights to Dominica, Monday, Friday, Sunday.
Air Antilles Chief Commercial Officer, Romain Hordel noted that given the present environment, it was decided to reinvest in Barbados by strengthening relationships with local tourism partners. “Our first steps in this direction have resulted in the creation of travel packages from Barbados to St. Lucia and Dominica in partnership with Going Places Travel – within the Caribbean travel bubble – and we look forward to continuing this momentum by meeting and collaborating with more Barbadian tourism partners,” he said. (JH)