(Photo : Reuters)

Barbados is an island situated in the southeastern part of the Caribbean Sea. It has a similar historical event like Jamaica. 

An article from Day Translations stated that it started as a Spanish colonial nation. After several centuries, it was ruled by the United Kingdom.

It remained a colony until its independence from colonialists in 1966. At that time, it joined the British Commonwealth and became a member of the United Nations (UN).

Currently, the country is a leading tourist destination in the Caribbean region. Its rich history makes it one of the interesting regions in the Americas.

There are many reasons why you should travel to Barbados this year. 

Here are 10 exciting facts about Barbados:

People Do Not Visit Barbados Only Once

There are more or less 2.8 million visitors in Barbados every year. It is not a weird thing for the country to receive repeat visitors. In the entire Caribbean region, Barbados had the biggest number of repeat visitors.

It is the World's Cricket Capital

Cricket is a major sport in Barbados. The sport dates back to its colonial era. Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes, Desmond Haynes, Charlie Griffith, Frank Worrell, and Gordon Greenidge are some of the famous cricket players in Barbados' history.

In the country, the locals are seen playing the sport anytime and anywhere in the entire year. These people can be seen playing in streets, fields, and beaches. 

Statistics reveal that Barbados has a record of 27 wins in the sport for tournaments. It is a player in three cricket seasons. 

The People

Informally, Barbadian locals call themselves 'Bajans.' The people in Barbados call themselves as Bajan Creole. 

Bajan Creole is a creole language that is English-based with significant influences from Africa. It is the widely used language in the country. However, the formal language in the country is English, including in written communication mediums.

In Barbados, Bajan is more or less 200 times more used by the locals compared to the English language. This number reveals how their official language, English, a minority language.

The Origin of the Island's Name

Barbados is a word that means 'bearded' in Portuguese and Spanish. It is believed that the origin of the word may have been because of the abundance of bearded fig trees on the island. 

Also, it was believed that the name 'Los Barbados' was given by the Portuguese traveler Pedro Campos who traveled in Brazil in 1536. 

Rum was invented in Barbados

Barbados is home to the oldest brand of rum creators in the entire world- Mount Gay. Mount Gay was established in 1703. It is proclaimed by many as the best rum in the entire world. 

Mount Gay is being traded in more than 100 nations. The brand's distillery is a top tourist spot. 

Rum plays a significant part in the culture of Barbados. Sharing rum with people is a form of a bond. An example of this is when a business deal is sealed and the business partners typically celebrate by drinking rum.

The Delicious Food

Barbados' cuisine is a combination of delicious local fish and produce. 

Every November, Mount Gay holds a Food, Wine & Rum Festival. This is just one of the various food festivals that the island celebrates. These festivals had transformed Barbados as the 'Culinary Capital of the Caribbean.'