Shell Beach Project Opens Airbnb Investment to Ordinary Antiguans
The Shell Beach development is being positioned to allow ordinary Antiguans and Barbudans to invest directly in tourism through Airbnb properties, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said Saturday, outlining a range of lot options and government concessions aimed at lowering barriers to entry.
Speaking on Pointe FM’s Browne and Browne programme, Browne said the project includes lots priced to suit different income levels, with both beachfront and inland options available, as well as land earmarked for a small boutique hotel to be developed by locals.
“What we’re trying to do is to get Antiguans and Barbudans involved, to expand their involvement in Airbnb accommodations,” Browne said, adding that the model allows residents to participate in tourism with relatively low risk.
He said Airbnb has become a significant part of the tourism sector, accounting for about 35% of visitor accommodation, and provides an opportunity for locals to benefit directly from tourism growth.
To support participation, Browne said the government will offer duty-free concessions on building materials, fixtures and fittings for properties developed within the Shell Beach project. He said waiving import duties, which can total more than 40%, is intended to drive down construction costs and make investment more accessible.
“That sector has done well for us,” Browne said, noting that Airbnb properties can also serve as vacation homes for owners when not fully rented.
Browne said the development includes smaller, more affordable inland lots aimed at workers and middle-income earners, alongside higher-value beachfront parcels. “We want the ordinary worker who may have had good savings to be able to buy a piece of land and build out a nice little property,” he said.
The prime minister also addressed concerns about sargassum in the area, saying the government has already implemented measures to prevent seaweed from affecting the beach and will take additional steps if necessary.
He said the Shell Beach initiative follows similar projects such as Pensioners Beach, which has already sold out, and forms part of a broader strategy to increase local ownership in tourism while transferring wealth through targeted concessions.
“This is part of a deliberate people-empowerment initiative,” Browne said, adding that the aim is to ensure Antiguans and Barbudans have a meaningful stake in the accommodation sector.
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