{"id":167601,"date":"2023-01-17T08:34:35","date_gmt":"2023-01-17T12:34:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=167601"},"modified":"2023-01-17T08:34:35","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T12:34:35","slug":"antigua-and-barbuda-ablp-promises-to-uplift-tourism-sector-announces-major-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/antigua-and-barbuda-ablp-promises-to-uplift-tourism-sector-announces-major-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"Antigua and Barbuda: ABLP promises to uplift tourism sector, announces major plans"},"content":{"rendered":"
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WIC: Antigua and Barbuda<\/span><\/strong>: Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party promised the upliftment of the tourism sector and announced plans and\u00a0programmes<\/a>\u00a0for the tourism next level, jobs and empowerment in their manifesto launched for January 18, general elections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Read Here: Full statement of ABLP on Tourism in Manifesto 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

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The vision for Tourism at the next Authority will be charged with higher level extends way into future. Aware that tourism requires planning not just for the immediate but also for the medium term, the ABLP administration has worked out a plan, starting the day after the\u00a0electorate<\/a>\u00a0has spoken on January 18th 2023 the date of the general elections.<\/span><\/p>

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To achieve this objective, the ABLP administration will work closely with its private sector partners, particularly Global Port Holdings, on the development of the Harbourfront. Global Ports will spend at least US$100 million on the shops, restaurants, boardwalks, and entertainment facilities including an amphitheatre \u2013 all of which are available to Antiguans and Barbudans to operate. There will also be a world-class terminal building, a casino, and a spa.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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The objective of this plan is to create more jobs and better-paying jobs. It is also to allow Antiguans and Barbudans to empower themselves by taking advantage of the many ownership opportunities in the provision of ancillary services, that will be presented by the major\u00a0projects<\/a>\u00a0which will be implemented.<\/span><\/p>\n

GOVERNMENT WILL OFFER LOCALS 25% OF THE CAPITAL TO START<\/span><\/p>

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PROFITABLE BUSINESSES<\/span><\/p>\n

Construction of a yacht marina in the St. John\u2019s Harbour, will also be encouraged, and local entrepreneurs can invest in its development and operation as owners. The ABLP government will assist local business ownership through its Venture Capital Fund by putting up 25% of the capital, to help potential owners raise a mortgage from the banks. While government will retain equity in the\u00a0business<\/a>\u00a0to facilitate borrowing and start-up, the owners can buy out the government\u2019s shares, using the\u00a0<\/span>dividends from profits.<\/span><\/p>

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Government\u2019s role is not to be an owner; it is to facilitate ownership by\u00a0<\/span>locals. The ABLP government anticipates that these facilities, especially when they are linked to Cruise Ships, which will use Antigua as their home port, will double the current tourism spend.<\/span><\/p>

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ANTIGUA WILL BE A PREMIER DESTINATION FOR CRUISE TOURISM<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cruise tourism will be bolstered by the investment of US$100 million until 2021 by one of the world\u2019s largest cruise, ship companies, Royal Caribbean International (RCI). An agreement had been signed with RCI in March 2019 to establish a Beach Club at Fort James to be utilized by the passengers on their ships, calling at Antigua. The project was deferred because of the COVID-19 pandemic Given the heightened activity of Global Ports Holdings, which has already been responsible for bringing an increased number of larger cruise ships to Antigua, together with RCI, Antigua will become a premier destination for cruise tourism globally.<\/span><\/p>\n

AIRLIFT HAS ALREADY INCREASED AND WILL EXPAND FURTHER<\/span><\/p>\n

The great majority of tourists to Antigua and Barbuda\u2019s record-breaking year arrive by in stay-over arrivals. Maintaining close relations with all airlines is, therefore, essential to growing the tourism industry and taking it to the next higher level.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The ABLP will ensure that marketing strategies and policies are pursued and implemented to\u00a0increase<\/a>\u00a0airlift to fill the rooms that will come on stream as new hotels and resorts are built in Antigua and Barbuda.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

NEW HOTELS AND RESORTS<\/span><\/p>\n

The ABLP has attracted investment in several new hotels and resorts that will catapult Antigua and Barbuda\u2019s rise to the next higher level. These<\/span><\/p>\n

include:<\/span><\/p>\n