When Antigua and Barbuda reopened for tourism on June 4, it was among the first destinations in the Caribbean to do so — sending ripples across the region and, more importantly, a message that, even amid the challenges of COVID-19, tourism was possible. 

Now, the destination continues to see its tourism numbers rise. 

Indeed, since Antigua and Barbuda reopened the destination has seen monthly visitor arrivals more than double, as of the end of August. 

In August, Antigua and Barbuda saw 4,761 visitors, with 67 percent of those coming from the United States, buoyed by daily flight service on American Airlines from Miami and routes on carriers like Delta and JetBlue. 

About 21 percent of travelers have come from the United Kingdom and Europe, 7 percent from within the Caribbean region and 3 percent from Canada. 

“The Ministry of Tourism and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority continue to carefully monitor the COVID-19 landscape within our main source markets,” said Charles Fernandez, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism. “We remain committed to working with the Ministry of Health and the entire Antigua and Barbuda Tourism sector to ensure that as the destination opens up further, we keep those protective measures in place that have been designed to safeguard our residents and those who visit our shores.”

The destination will continue its strong health and safety protocols, Fernandez said, including a requirement for a negative PCR test; the use of facial masks when social distancing is not possible and other protocols stipulated by the country’s Ministry of Health. 

In October, a number of hotel reopening are also planned. 

That includes Blue Waters Resort, Tamarind Hills, Hermitage Bay, Antigua Village, Galley Bay, Carlisle Bay Resort, St. James’s Club, The Great House, Antigua Yacht Club Marina, Ocean Point Resort, Curtain Bluff Resort, and Hawksbill. 

“Each hotel or accommodation offering that has opened has been inspected by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Health, to ensure that they are adhering to the covid-19 protocols set for tourism accommodation.   Over   two hundred properties have been inspected to date ranging from small bed & breakfast styled properties, to the larger all-inclusives.”

For more, visit Antigua and Barbuda. 

— CJ