Up to 1,000 fam trip places to Barbados are available for UK travel agents next year as part of an online trade incentive scheme from January.
The Barbados Tourism Authority formally launched its new Bajan Club scheme on Monday at World Travel Market, with the country’s Minister of Tourism and Transport Noel Lynch in attendance.
The Bajanclub.com site will offer promotions, training courses and fam trip places. But what should excite agents is a new, points-based incentive scheme.
They can sign up simply by identifying themselves and who they work for, and start accumulating points for every booking.
A tourism authority spokesman said: “It’s a loyalty programme that will allow agents to build up points on every service they book which they can redeem against going to Barbados or, if they are going anyway, get discounts on hotels, car hire and restaurants. We are looking to take 1000 agents next year.”
The authority has taken 300 UK agents this year, including 100 on an annual mega-fam.
“When we take people to Barbados they love it and sell much harder when they get back,” said the spokesman.
Barbados will host the cricket World Cup final on April 27, but the authority believes there is more than sport driving the country’s popularity in the UK.
The spokesman said visitor numbers this year are up on 2005, although he declined to give figures.
“To be up in today’s market is fantastic,” he said. “We’re in a very competitive market.”