Its unique location has proved a key factor in the economic success of Barbados, helping to make this a preferred tourist destination, an ideal cruise call and a great place for sports and adventure.
There are not many places, either, where business and pleasure can be mixed with such satisfactory results.
With its relatively isolated location touching the Atlantic Ocean and relatively removed from the other Caribbean islands, Barbados has the advantage of being a natural getaway to the West Indies, so that many ship operators make Bridgetown their first port of call on westbound routes.
Measuring just 21 miles long by 14 miles wide, Barbados is little more than a dot on most maps. Yet the strength of its economy, and its impact on international tourism, are impressive. Barbados is also an important air hub for the immediate region, with more direct flights to Europe and North America than its closest neighbours.
Port of Call
For more that four decades, the Port of Bridgetown has been handling cruise ships as well as the cargo ships that serve the island's domestic market. Over 2,000 vessels call at Bridgetown each year including 500 cruise ships and 700 deepsea cargo ships. In 2004, the port welcomed some 812,863 cruise passengers.
Barbados has become a second home for many vessels cruising the Caribbean. Bridgetown is now used increasingly as a turnround port by operators who see the advantages of home-porting in Barbados. A key factor in this sector is the Grantley Adams International Airport, which provides a smooth transfer in and out of Barbados for passengers and their baggage.
Lines
The Port of Bridgetown has also seen a steady growth in container ship calls, which have more than doubled in the last 10 years. Many well-known shipping lines now call at Barbados including Bernuth, Cagema, CMA-CGM, Geest, Maersk and Tropical.
These lines provide direct links with Europe, North and South America, Africa and the Far East.
The expansion is in the line with the strategy of Barbados port Inc. (BPI) to expand its transhipment business over the next 10 years. New container storage areas are being created inside the port to serve this growing traffic, as the port aims to apply the same high quality of service to the transhipment business as it already offers to the cruise sector.
Capacity
Though relatively modest in size, the Port of Bridgetown can nevertheless accommodate a large number of vessels thanks to a total of 1,513 metres of berthage.
At any given time the port can host five mega sized cruise ships.
Following a major dredging programme in 2002 the port has sufficient depth to accommodate the new mega vessels, and has already played host to the world's largest cruise ships including the Queen Mary 2 and Adventure of the Seas.
Highly Developed
Barbados is perhaps the most highly developed and hospitable of all the Caribbean islands. With its long history as a British colony, Barbados today has strong links with bothe North American and European business cultures, attracting major conferences and sporting events.
Its highly developed infrastructure, together with a reputation for diligence, good governance and low crime, has given businessmen the confidence to put Barbados high on their list of preferred locations.
One example of the determination of the local authorities to stay ahead of its competitors was its hosting of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association's annual conference and trade show in 2004 after the original host was obliged to withdraw at the last minute due to hurricane damage.
The Barbados Tourism Authority and BPI stepped in and organised a three-day conference for 800 delegates in just two and a half weeks. This ability to move up a gear is yet another reason why Barbados has built its reputation as 'best in class'.