CHERYL CARTER

BTMI director, UK

Imay be a little bit biased, but Barbados really is the Caribbean island which has something for everyone, from the young to the young-atheart. We hope to give you many holiday ideas to consider.

This year is an exciting time for Barbados as we celebrate our 50th year of independence and we plan to celebrate with events all year long!

A number of exciting events are being planned and launched such as the “From Shore to Shore” flower show and garden festival. Crop Over – which marks the end of the sugar cane harvest – and the Food, Wine and Rum Festival, are both big hits with visitors and will be bigger and better than ever in 2016.

For sports lovers, unmissable events include the Run Barbados Series, with its marathon, half marathon, 5km, 10km, and a Fun Mile. There is the Open Water Swimming Festival, the Sol Rally, the Mount Gay Round The Island Race and the Mount Gay Regatta. Barbados has a varied cultural landscape and plays host to a number of major events, including Classical Pops in December and the Caribbean’s second largest Reggae Festival in April. Music is a big part of the island’s fabric and, if you are seeking unique experiences, then events like the Holder’s Season in March and, Gospelfest in May are a must.

We hope you enjoy reading this supplement and we look forward to having you join us to celebrate our 50th year of independence in Barbados this year.