SOURCE: OPEN JAW NEWS- This twin island nation is targeting more Canucks, more ships, and more luxury clients.
It was a celebration of colour, food and Caribbean flavours as members of Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism community welcomed some 50 travel advisors to an event 12AUG at the posh Lavelle club in downtown T.O.
Joining the celebration were two special guests: Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment Charles “Max” Fernandez, and the CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Colin C. James. The team from the new tourism office in Toronto, led by Tameka Wharton, Director of Tourism, were also at the event.
It was Fernandez’ first official visit to Canada and he is clearly bullish on this country’s potential. 2024 passed pre-pandemic levels of visitors, while 2025 is ticking along to beat even that.
Antigua (airport code ANU) punches well above its weight in attractions, culture, history and the music scene. Not bad considering it is only 1/10th the size of Prince Edward Island.
Cruising is clearly an important focus of Antigua (“an-tee-gah”), with some 570 calls last year, up from 446 the previous year. New to the island are home port calls, where pax start and end their cruises on the island. However Fernandez was careful to point out to Open Jaw that with 365 beaches – and beaches being a hugely popular shore excursion – crowding is not an issue. For example, water taxis are now being looked at an alternative to vans and road taxis for the cruise pax.
“We want to position ourselves as high end, aspirational, and must take into consideration the locals’ attitudes to tourists and avoid the issue of over-tourism,” he added.
The country is also proud of the leading role it is taking in the Caribbean when it comes to the environment. It was the first in the region to ban single-use plastics and Styrofoam.
There’s also a new focus on sister island Barbuda (“bar-bew-da”) which is slightly smaller than Antigua and accessible by boat, helicopter and now aircraft, thanks to the recently-completed airport. The airport, code BBQ (how cool is that?) can only take smaller aircraft such as private jets and some regional flights.
“We are positioning Barbuda, with its high-end villas and now private jet access, as the new St. Barts,” James told Open Jaw, referencing the swank little French island not far from Saint-Martin. “Barbuda is a completely different experience from Antigua: totally relaxed and zen.”
Sitting with two of the most senior members of the tourism community, I couldn’t help but ask them their favourite thing to do on the island. The Minister loves visiting the historic Nelson’s Dockyard, a cultural heritage site and marina, while James loves the twice weekly party at Shirley Heights when tourists and locals mingle to have fun and admire the sunset. Find out more about ANU and BBQ at visitantiguabarbuda.com.
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Nice 👌
Keep up the good work Max Fernandez and Team
Yep! It is good to see my black beautiful people heading these offices, but in Antigua under ALP only Caucasian looking people can head tourism as ministers,
I understand that Gaston said whiter people will get along with tourist better, so it was asot and now Fernandez. And Ron saunders as head to meet the officials of the USA government. None represent the 99% African ethnicity of Antigua and Barbuda.
go back to your slum!