Above: The Inn in Antigua

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Antigua and Barbuda’s government has outlined “Five Pillars” of its overhauled tourism strategy, according to Tourism Minister John Maginley.

The country’s 2013 tourism initiatives will focus on the areas of human resource development, product development, marketing and promotion, airlift and the creation of a “strong enabling environment” for the development of the sector.

This year will also see the implementation of projects from Antigua’s Tourism Development Plan, which was commissioned in 2012.

“It is important to state that the sustainable governance of the tourism sector is crucial for the good management of the destination in collaboration with public and private players,” he said.

Antigua will also soon be launching its new digital marketing strategy, first announced last month.

“The tourism development program will help to diversify tourism product offerings in order to satisfy the varying and diverse needs of our visitors, attract new market segments with new core and complementary products, increase global competitiveness, increase visitor expenditure, and enhance visitor satisfaction with cultural, natural and man-made sites by encouraging strategic sites and asset development,” Maginley said.