The government is still considering the option of using a cruise ship to provide additional accommodation for delegates attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) later this year.
Officials said Cabinet received an update on the country’s accommodation capacity during a presentation by representatives of the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA), as preparations continue for the high-level summit scheduled for November.
The meeting is expected to bring more than 5,000 delegates to Antigua and Barbuda, including heads of government, senior officials and members of the royal household.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said the possibility of supplementing hotel rooms with a cruise vessel remains under consideration as a contingency measure.
“That is still on the cards,” Merchant said when asked whether the government had decided to secure a cruise ship to augment accommodation for the summit.
Cabinet was told that local hotels have already begun reserving rooms for visiting delegations, with several major properties allocating blocks of rooms for participating countries.
“Royalton, some 200-plus rooms have already been earmarked for guests,” Merchant said, adding that other hotels have started discussions with Commonwealth member states to secure additional room blocks.
Despite the scale of the event, officials said the tourism sector remains confident that Antigua and Barbuda will be able to accommodate the expected number of visitors.
Merchant said the ABHTA believes that, with the inclusion of smaller hotels and guesthouses, the country should be able to meet the accommodation demand for the summit.
However, he said Cabinet has asked the association to provide regular updates in the coming months as bookings increase and final attendance figures become clearer.
“One thing that the cabinet agreed that should happen in the ensuing months is that the ABHTA will come and give regular briefings to the cabinet as to the status of accommodations,” Merchant said.
Officials said the cruise ship option remains a fallback plan should the number of delegates significantly exceed the current projections.
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