Barbados Hotel Sources of barbados hotel resources from the Web

Traditional trading partners include: Canada, the Caribbean Community (especially Trinidad and Tobago), the United Kingdom, and the United States.

In May 1997, Prime Minister Owen Arthur hosted President Clinton and 14 other Caribbean leaders during the first-ever U.S.-regional summit in Bridgetown, Barbados. The summit strengthened the basis for regional cooperation on justice and counternarcotics issues, finance and development, and trade.

After years of peaceful and democratic progress, Barbados became an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations on November 30, 1966.

The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, encourage direct foreign investment, and privatise remaining state-owned enterprises. Unemployment has been reduced from high levels of around 14% in the past to only under 10%.

The largest Carnival cultural events which take place in Barbados are the Congaline Festival and Crop Over Festival as known internationally.