Barbados - Tourism, travel, and recreation

Barbados, with its fine beaches, sea bathing, and pleasant climate, has long been a popular holiday resort. Cricket is the national sport, followed by surfing, sailing, and other marine pastimes. A valid passport is required of all visitors except nationals of the US and Canada traveling directly to Barbados with other acceptable identification.

In 2000, 544,695 tourists visited Barbados, with 41% of travelers coming from the United Kingdom. Tourist spending was an estimated US $711 million. There were 6,456 hotel rooms that year with 12,240 bed-places and a 57% occupancy rate. The cost of staying in Barbados varies seasonally. According to 2001 US government estimates, the daily cost of staying in Barbados between December and April is about $370. At other times of the year, daily costs average $242.