Barbados

Barbados is one of the most popular luxury holiday destinations in the world. Renowned for its breathtaking scenery, the richness of its culture and above all the friendliness of its people it provides the best of all worlds - it is one of the best places to relax, but it's also full of chic restaurants, vibrant nightclubs and world-class golf courses. Barbados has an endearingly British atmosphere and cricket is the national sport. But despite the British influence, it is a cosmopolitan country with a strong character of its own. It is prosperous and progressive and still full of natural charm; the Caribbean culture is very much evident in its cuisine, music and people.

Located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea and close to the equator, Barbados enjoys a warm and sunny climate all year. It is predominantly flat with rolling hills to the north, and has a unique coral structure which acts as a natural filter making its waters amongst the purest in the world. The Atlantic east coast is less developed and ruggedly beautiful, offering some spectacular panoramas forged over millions of years by the powerful Atlantic Ocean's winds and waves. 

The Merricks Beach Resort is situated in the south east of Barbados on the stunning Atlantic coast in the parish of St Philip, 4km north of The Crane and next to Sam Lord’s Castle just 20 minutes from the Sir Grantley Adams International Airport.

Key Facts

Population
280,000

Capital
Bridgetown (other important towns – Holetown, Oistins, Speightstown)

Area
430 sq km/166 sq miles; 34 km/21 miles long 23 km/14 miles wide

Geography
Barbados is predominantly composed of limestone-coral. The island was created less than one million years ago by the collision of the Atlantic crustal and Caribbean plates which merged together and formed the base for an accumulation of 300 ft of coral. It is primarily low-lying, rising gently to the central highland region; the highest point is Mount Hillaby in the Scotland district - 340metres. The island has 62 miles of coastline - the beaches are white sand composed of finely ground coral. The island has 11 administrative parishes - Christchurch, St Andrew, St George, St James, St John, St Joseph, St Lucy, St Michael, St Peter, St Philip, St Thomas

Time difference
GMT -4

Language
Official language is English; the local dialect is Bajan English

Monetary unit
Barbados dollar (fixed to the US dollar); US dollars are widely accepted

Airport
There is one major airport – Sir Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA)

Flight times
8.5 hours from London - BA & Virgin fly daily; Virgin & BMI fly direct from Manchester; 3.5 hours from Miami and 5 hours from New York – American Airlines fly daily

Climate
Tropical climate with little seasonal temperature variation averaging 27°c; average daily sunshine is 8 – 9 hours; seasonal rainfall between June and
October

Location
Barbados is the most easterly Caribbean Islands and part of the Lesser Antilles. Located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea, with the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast and the Caribbean Sea on the west coast

Government
Barbados is an ex-British colony and has been an independent state in the Commonwealth since November 1966; Governor General - Sir Clifford Husbands; Prime Minister - David Thompson

Economy
Barbados is one of the most developed countries in the Caribbean with a market based economy and capital growth of 12%. The island is highly rated for the quality of its educational, social and healthcare services and ranks in the top 30/31 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI) rankings. Its economy is driven by business and financial services, tourism, agriculture and manufacturing. Large corporates are investing in Barbados e.g. PWC, KPMG, Barclays

Tourism
Barbados is one of the most established tourist markets in the world. It’s been a tourist destination since the early 40’s and has experienced a boom since the 60’s with the majority of visitors coming from the UK, the US and Canada. It was one of Concord’s most profitable routes, with daily flights in the winter months. In 2001 it welcomed 1 mn visitors who spent in excess of US$700 mn; in 2004 tourism accounted for 12.4% of GDP. High season - mid Oct to mid March

A Final Thought . . .

"In 2006 the total expenditire by tourists was $763.2 million, this averaged out to $127.48 per day for each tourist in Barbados"

Figures from Caribbean tourism organisation, Barbados 2006