It is with great pride as an Antiguan citizen that I witness the increased arrival of cruise ships to our harbors, and I’m heartened to see a promising tourism season unfolding. However, I must express some concerns regarding the current state of our facilities and the visitor experience in St. John’s.
During my visits to the St. John’s Harbor, I have observed entire cruise ships docked, filled with passengers who remain onboard, simply observing from the deck. The lack of enticing activities or welcoming attractions seems to dissuade them from exploring our beautiful town, with only a handful venturing into St. John’s. This represents a missed opportunity, not only for government revenue but, more importantly, for our local vendors and community businesses who could benefit from increased tourist engagement.
To make our island truly attractive, I suggest enhancing the onshore experience to encourage passengers to explore and invest in the local economy. Here are some key areas to consider:
1. Entertainment and Cultural Representation: In the past, we proudly welcomed visitors with native dancers in traditional costumes, vibrant steel pan performances, and other cultural showcases. Bringing back these forms of entertainment would enrich visitors’ experiences and draw them into St. John’s, creating memorable impressions of Antigua.
2. Enhanced Security and Comfort: A visible police presence and patrols around the harbor and Heritage Quay would not only improve security but also provide tourists with a sense of comfort and safety, encouraging them to disembark and explore with peace of mind.
3. Onshore Facilities and Welcoming Areas: By creating a welcoming space at the dock with amenities and directional signage, we can create an atmosphere that invites tourists to step off the cruise ship. Including informational stands and maps can help them navigate our attractions, encouraging longer stays and increased engagement with local vendors.
While the increase in cruise arrivals is undoubtedly beneficial to our national revenue, it is imperative that we take steps to ensure this growth is reflected in our local economy, benefiting vendors, artisans, and business owners in St. John’s. I urge you to consider these suggestions and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to create a holistic experience that both reflects our culture and promotes our local economy.
Thank you for your attention to these pressing matters. I look forward to seeing improvements that will enhance Antigua’s standing as a vibrant, welcoming destination.
LM
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
We definitely need at least 10 police officers, on duty.
And also address the taxi drivers system.
And keep the non authorized out to reduce congestion.
nothing to really wow our visitors the place looks like a dump!!
Our town is a ghetto. Smells and looks . The place needs serious upgrade . Vendors selling from old run down shacks and tents,crack heads and drunkies all over,the statue of the former PM in the heart of the city with people selling all around it and dirty water running in the nearby gutters. We need to do much better.
I too am concerned about the lack of infrastructure improvement in St. John’s over the years even as we are welcoming more and more visitors to our shores annually. St. John’s is badly run down and many of the buildings want a little sprucing up. A few weeks ago I was walking at the corner of Tanner Street and Corn Alley on a busy crew ship day and some tourists asked me to show them the main part of the city, even as they were taking pictures of the unsightly gutters and buildings. I was a little bit dumbfounded and embarrassed at the question but I had to assure that that St. John’s is a fairly small and compact town. We all love the tourist numbers and welcome the increase but we must address the unsightly nature of St. John’s quickly.
The vendors need to stop calling
out to tourists as they walk by.
They are browsing,
If they see something that catches they eye, they will approach you.
It’s bad manners to be calling out to them, and trying to get their attention.
I hope the powers that be see this post and reach out to the vendors and bring this behavior to their attention!🤔
One would think with all the traveling our politicians do on a regular basis they see just how much St. John’s is lacking. Mr. Fernandez, how can you travel the world promoting Antigua and not be embarrassed when you return?
Where is the ghost minister of tourism. Clean up your front and back yard. What an embarrassment to our beautiful island. Max can you read and comprehend? These complaints have been going on far too long and the problems not being addressed. Tek u head outta de rum bottle and do something.
Soon from now we won’t have any tourists as that boy skiesmediatv or Joshua wadi, keeps portraying Antigua in a negative light for views. Half the people he interviews are foreigners and low educated people. For people who don’t know what I’m talking about go visit his instagram. Distasteful shi* all over the internet
This whole island smells and looks like a trash bin, I wouldn’t let anyone of my foreign friends come to this dump. It’s really embarrassing…
Forget swimming with pigs, Heritage Quay is as dirty as a pig pen.
I have videos of areas that need to be developed. I took them today .
Comments are closed.