About Barbados

Barbados, popularly known as the 'Jewel of the Caribbean' is one of the most sought-after holiday destinations. It is an alluring amalgamation of culture, food, natural scenic beauty, a warm climate and the sea that merges with the blue skies in the distant horizon. There are eleven parishes and four towns including the capital Bridgetown, each with their own character, charm and history. The kind-hearted and friendly Barbadians are the island's greatest asset with their literacy rate as one of the highest globally. It is the most pleasant place to pursue your dream of mastering the art and science of modern medicine.

• The name 'Barbados' is derived from the 'bearded fig trees' once found in abundance on the island
• It is home to many beautiful white sandy beaches and is completely surrounded by the Atlantic ocean
• The United Nations human development index has placed Barbados in the "very high human development" category
• With the third oldest parliament in the world and British style of parliamentary democracy, elections in Barbados are held in every 5 years
• The climate is moderately tropical with temperatures ranging between 27-30 C and 70 – 76% humidity all year round
• The Grantley Adams International airport at Barbados is well connected with direct flights from USA, Canada and UK
• The most modern Bridgetown Port in Barbados is among the award winning ports of the world
• It is the first Caribbean island to start a fertility center in order to promote medical tourism with a success rate higher than in UK and USA
• Barbadian Dollars (BD$) is the local currency (1 US$ = 2 BD$)

Capital City

Bridgetown is the capital city of Barbados which is home to numerous impressive colonial buildings , historic garrison that is designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Some of the sites that are of particular interest to the tourist are Parliament building, Harrison’s Cave, Flower Forest, Bathsheba, Gun Hill Signal Station, Animal Flower Cave, Farley Hill National Park and white sand beaches.

Education

The educational system in Barbados is modeled after the British system and one that has produced a high literacy rate over the years. School is compulsory up to the age of 16 and government schools are free at the primary and secondary levels. The country proudly boasts of a literacy rate which is 97 percent.

Language

English is the official language of Barbados.

Time

Barbados is in the Atlantic Time Zone, which is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). It is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time; however, the island does not observe daylight-saving. From April to October, the Eastern time in America is the same as the time in Barbados. From October to April, the East Coast of the United States is one hour behind Barbados.

Visa Entry Requirements

All visitors to Barbados are required to have a valid passport. Nationals of CARICOM, UK, USA, Canada and some Commonwealth countries can travel to Barbados with acceptable proof of identification, like a passport, birth certificate or national ID.