BY SHEENA FORDE-CRAIGG | JAN 15, 2024
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s CEO (acting), Craig Hinds (left); Minister of Tourism, Ian Gooding-Edghill (fourth from left); and BTMI’s Chief Product Development Officer, Marsha Alleyne (right) pose with loyal visitors (left to right) Janet Godfrey; Anne Jones-Forde; Sandra and Neil McRoberts; and Beverley Corscadden. (C. Pitt/BGIS)
The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s (BTMI) Loyal Visitors Club is an initiative aimed at recognising tourists who have visited the island 25 times or more, and it continues to reap benefits for Barbados.
BTMI’s Chief Product Development Officer, Marsha Alleyne, whose department oversees the programme, alluded to this as she explained that the club’s 500-plus registered visitors are referred to as “our marketers”.
“These persons absolutely love Barbados. They have a love affair with the island, and they help us to market the destination by telling others back home where they’re from, whether it’s in the UK, Canada, USA, or Germany about Barbados and why they should come. They even also bring a contingent with them. So, we have no choice but to honour them,” Ms. Alleyne stated.
When asked what is the common factor when talking to the ‘Loyal Visitors’ about why they make the effort to return to Barbados so many times, the Chief Product Development Officer said the resounding response is “the people”.
“The people of Barbados are the number one resource and number one product for why we have such a high repeat clientele. And I continue to say it because it’s our Barbadian people that actually make us proud. This is why they come back, not just because it’s a warm weather destination, not just because we have beautiful beaches, but they come back because of the friendly nature of the people. They know the people and who they’re going to run into and what we’ve become to them, family,” she said.
Persons who have visited the island 25 times and over and who are interested in joining the Loyal Visitors Club should contact the BTMI at 535-3700, or email loyalvisitorsclub@visitbarbados.org.
The Loyal Visitors Club was started in the early 1990s as a token of appreciation to honour repeat visitors. These persons are also acknowledged upon their 50th, 75th, and 100th visit to the island.
