The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority has named a new chairman.

The ABTA has appointed former St. Kitts and Nevis Tourism Minister Ricky Skerritt to the role, in which he will be responsible for overseeing the “development of policies and strategies designed to strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s reputation as a world-class tourism and travel destination,” according to a statement.

“I am very excited that Ricky Skerritt has agreed to join our Tourism leadership team.  We have already begun taking a number of important steps towards revitalizing our tourism product, and Mr. Skerritt’s advice and leadership will be invaluable to us going forward,” said Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister Asot Michael, for whom Skerritt will also serve as an advisor.

Skerritt served as Minister of Tourism in St. Kitts and Nevis for more than 10 years, from 2004 to 2015, during which he became one of the more influential tourism officials in the Caribbean region.

Skerritt succeeds outgoing ABTA Chairman Rohan Hector.

“Mr. Hector answered my call to serve in an unfamiliar field at a very challenging time, and I am grateful to him for helping us to get to this moment of further change,” Michael said.

— Caribbean Journal Staff