Greene Says Barbuda’s Development Targets High-End Tourism, Not Mass Market
Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene said Barbuda’s development strategy is focused on high-end tourism rather than mass tourism, positioning the sister island differently from regional competitors.
Speaking on Government in Motion, Greene said Barbuda’s airport expansion and related investments are designed to support an upscale tourism model aligned with international luxury travel.
“It’s high-end,” Greene said. “We’re not going for this mass tourism that other countries go for. We’re going for high-end tourism.”
He said developments on Barbuda are attracting visitors who arrive via private aircraft and yachts, creating a distinct tourism niche.
“Most of the persons who are part of the PLH project, for example, have their own private jets, their own yachts,” Greene said. “So it’s a different level of tourism bringing benefit to Antigua and Barbuda, in this instance Barbuda.”
Greene said the growth of Barbuda’s tourism sector is reshaping its role within the national economy and narrowing long-standing economic disparities between the two islands.
“Everything commercial happened in Antigua,” he said. “Barbuda had to come to Antigua to do all the shopping. Everything really was around Antigua.”
He said that dynamic is changing as development accelerates on Barbuda.
“Now we are seeing equity, we are seeing development in Barbuda which matches or mirrors, in some instances eclipses what’s happening in Antigua,” Greene said.
He added that current projects on Barbuda exceed most existing developments on the mainland.
“That PLH project alone in Barbuda is superior to anything we have on Antigua, save and except for Jumby Bay,” Greene said.
Greene said improved air access supports the island’s upscale tourism ambitions and allows direct travel by private aircraft.
“Small jets, as we speak, can land directly in Barbuda,” he said. “That itself means a whole lot to the aviation industry.”
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It is true that most of the purchasers at the PLH project travels by private jet. They are fractional owners.
The Barbuda developments bringing in high end does not mean much to Antiguans and Barbudans.
Their paycheck isn’t any bigger. The benefits are not anymore generous.
What is for sure is that these luxury communities will not be year round.
The owners be spending their time in other resort around the world.
As luxury as it may for Antiguans and Barbudans PLH and Nobu will only be offering seasonal work.
Many seasonal workers in the past were offered jobs in the Hamptons or on Cape Cod. With the visa restrictions such sn option May no longer be available to seasonal workers
Rather than washing the public eyes about Barbuda’s development strategy is focused on high-end tourism rather than mass tourism.
As a politician and policy maker Nobu will not open this year. I have photos to prove it; the project will not be ready for this season.
In addition Minister Greene would not want to mention that what critics have said about the airport is true. It’s a racially segregated facility.
It provides no added value to Antiguans and Barbudans.
The staff sits around all day with nothing to do.
The staffing of the airport is a result of incompetence or political sit around all day jobs.
I challenge anyone to justify the staffing at the airport as efficient and productive.
PLH issued economic impact numbers at the end of last year are erroneous and misleading
Currently PLH are not paying vendors on Barbuda for months when done invoices of less than EC $1,000. That’s the type of matter the Minister should be addressing.
The Government has never indicated who is operating the FBO on Barbuda and what was the process to procure the services.
When one examines the visa restrictions and the economic situation of these developments and its implications, those are the issues the Minister should addressing rather than luxury and private jets.
I can listen to you any time a feel pretty good about any you say. Not so much with the other one. He over talks and to me not very believable.
Call it by whatever name you like snake in the grass overseer politician greene. It’s upscale plantation living.
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