This year, the Barbados booth at the Latin America International Tourism Fair (FIT) will offer the public the opportunity to experience some of the traditional “Food and Rum” festival that is celebrated annually on the island. With the expertise of Natasha Jules and Philip Antoine, two mixologists who will be specially arriving for the event, visitors will be able to taste some of the island’s specialties.

Barbados, one of the most attractive islands in the Caribbean, will make its presence felt at FIT with a delegation of 17 people and proposals that will undoubtedly catch the attention of tour operators and delight the fair’s visitors. The delegation will include representatives from Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI): Corey Garrett, Director of Caribbean & Latin America; Ashleigh Phillips, Kyle Gittens, and Russell Banfield, Business Development Officers. Also, the CEO and members of The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association will be present.

Among other activities, on Monday, October 2nd, at 5:00 PM in the fair’s auditorium, there will be a presentation and press conference featuring the Minister of Tourism and International Transport of Barbados.

The Island of Rum

The Food & Rum festival is one of the most well-known events on the island. The next edition will take place from October 19th to 22nd and will be named “Feed The Future.” The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) has partnered with 22 local chefs and mixologists to showcase the best of the national culinary talent.

In addition to local talent, BTMI has also invited three international chefs with the aim of promoting the festival globally. “Fan favorite Anne Burrell from Food Network is joining us again from the United States and will collaborate with BTMI for this year’s Food & Rum Festival. We have also partnered with the UK’s MasterChef Shelina Permalloo and, from Colombia, Chef Juan Diego Vanegas,” they announced in a statement issued by BTMI. They added, “Since the United States and the United Kingdom represent the largest percentage of visitors to Barbados, we believe this festival is a significant attraction, as we have been promoting it in these markets. Our partnership with Chef Juan Diego Vanegas has been comprehensive, as BTMI continues to focus on establishing its presence in the Latin American market, which is considered a new emerging market. For BTMI, this alliance and the opening of an office in Panama will be of great help in further solidifying the organization’s presence in Latin America.”