Dominica, Barbados Ink Tourism Promotion Partnership

Andrea Franklin is Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s new CEO. (Photo courtesy of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.)

The governments of Dominica and Barbados have entered into a landmark tourism partnership under which the countries will collaborate on promoting their tourism products and offer enhanced multi-destination packages.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on October 1 at the Hilton Barbados Resort during the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC).

Through the pact, the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) and the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) will seek to strengthen the appeal of both countries, promoting sustainable tourism and developing new vacation experiences for travellers.

The MOU establishes a joint framework for cooperation, focusing on marketing, knowledge exchange and enhancing visitor experiences across both destinations.

Andrea Franklin, chief executive officer (CEO) of BTMI., emphasized  the agreement’s mutual benefits, calling for creative collaboration and regional unity.

“Dominica may see Barbados as a tourism ‘grandparent,’ but there’s so much we can learn from each other,” said Franklin. “Barbados is proud to be the premier home port cruising destination in the region and we see this as an opportunity to attract more business to neighbouring islands as well.”

Franklin sajd the MOU could serve as a model for the region, opening doors to similar agreements with other islands.

“When it comes to attracting airlift to the region, it’s vital that we stop viewing ourselves as individual countries competing for flights,” she said. “Instead, we must work together to bring more airlift into the Caribbean. If Barbados serves as the hub, we should channel that connectivity to our sister islands, like Dominica, ensuring all destinations benefit,” Franklin said.

“This collaboration is part of a larger conversation and we look forward to learning from Barbados, which will help build greater awareness and create a ripple effect on the GDP and economic opportunities for both our countries,” said Marva Williams, CEO and director of DDA.

“Our teams will meet to strategize on marketing and to engage airlines and cruise lines, ensuring we maximize the benefits of this partnership,” said Franklin. “We’re especially excited to collaborate in areas such as sports, eco-tourism and sustainable tourism, all of which are essential to the future of Caribbean travel,” she added. 

Key areas of collaboration outlined in the agreement include:

 Curating and promoting multi-destination tourism packages that highlight the unique cultural, eco-tourism, adventure and wellness offerings of Dominica and Barbados

• Supporting the development of air and cruise connections to facilitate seamless travel between islands
• Coordinating media exchanges, media familiarization tours, joint training and public relations events to raise the profile of both destinations globally
• Sharing expertise in sustainable tourism and product enhancement to ensure lasting benefits for local communities and the environment

A joint working group will oversee the implementation of the MOU with biannual progress reviews and the development of a detailed action plan to ensure the partnership achieves its objectives, according to the partners

---

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore