Antigua and Barbuda is one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the Caribbean, and now the twin-island country is looking to continue its surge in arrivals with more airlift.
A delegation from the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority led by CEO Colin C. James was in Indianapolis this past week for four days of “intense meetings and negotiations” at the Routes Americas Conference.
James ,who was joined by Tourism Consultant in the Ministry of Tourism Lesroy Browne, Dean Fenton, ABTA Director of Tourism for the USA and Norrell Joseph, sales and marketing manager for the United States market, met with a host of new airline prospects, including Sun Country, TUI, Lufthansa, Spirit and Flair Airlines.
“For our airlift to keep pace with the recent rapid increase in hotel rooms and so allow Antigua and Barbuda to continue to fuel the growth in visitor arrivals, it is imperative that we actively promote and represent our interests at the conference,” James said. “Routes Americas provides us with the platform to share the latest developments in tourism, and the facilities available at our award-winning Airport. These efforts in meeting the most influential aviation professionals have in the past resulted in Antigua and Barbuda securing new and additional airlift to support the growth in tourism air stay over arrivals.”
Last year, Antigua and Barbuda topped 300,000 air arrivals, with 17 percent growth from the all-important United States market.
The growth has led to “strong demand” for the destination for existing partners liek United, JetBlue and American Airlines, officials said.
Several carriers are also exploring opportunities to expand service to Antigua and Barbuda, according to the ABTA team.
“On the heels of the most successful year ever in its tourism air arrivals, Antigua and Barbuda is poised for another record-setting year for summer and the 2020/2021 winter season as shown by a renewed confidence in the destination from long-standing and potential new airline partners,” the ABTA said in a statement.
— CJ