Tourism Rising

Record investment in the Tourism Industry. According to World Investment Report, in 2007 Antigua and Barbuda received approximately US$391 Million in foreign investment making the country the fourth highest recipient of FDI in the Caribbean. 25% increase in our room stock. Antigua and Barbuda’s room stock increased from 3,000 in 2004 to 4,154 in 2008, an increase of approximately 25%. This represents more than US$2.0 billion of investment, unmatched in the history of the country. Aggressive destination marketing of the destination and success in winning awards, including the Adrian Award for Tourism campaign in January 2008; “The Best Sailing and Yachting Island of the Year 2007”, the Best Wedding Island Award in 2006 and 2007; the Best Beach Break destination in 2007. Record hotel construction and renovation. This includes Hodges Bay Club, Sugar Ridge, Natocha Ltd. Sandals Grande Antigua Resort, South Point at Falmouth Harbor, Verandah and NonSuch Bay Development, among others. The introduction of the Romantic Rhythms International Music Festival, as a signature event to continues to position Antigua and Barbuda as the Events Capital of the Eastern Caribbean. Record stay-over and cruise ship visits and cruise passengers. In 2007 Antigua recorded over 384 cruise arrivals and 672,788 cruise passengers. Our stay over visitors were approximately 261,786. Our tourism development programme for our second term will include:
  • Commissioning of a Tourism Master Plan
  • Giving highest priority to environmental sustainability
  • Continuous improvement in product quality to enhance visitor experience
  • Diversifying and enhancing the tourism products by linking tourism to culture, sports, the arts and the environment
  • Developing the concept of Community Tourism by training and motivating local people to provide accommodation and other services to visitors in their communities
To optimize the potential of the tourism industry, we will launch the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority will:
  • Promote, assist and facilitate efficient policies for the development of tourism
  • Design and implement marketing strategies for the effective promotion of the tourism industry
  • Advise the government and the private sector on matters relating to these strategies
  • Make provision for adequate and suitable air and sea passenger transport services to and from the destination
  • Provide improved Tourism Incentives to industry participants
Small Hotels
  • A UPP Government will implement a special incentives regime for small hotels.
  • We will, through the Antigua and Barbuda Development Bank, provide grants and concessionary loans for the upgrading of small hotels and villas and assist them in developing a special programme for advertising and marketing.
More Money for Tourism Marketing A UPP Government will:
  • Continue to increase the budgetary allocation for tourism marketing
  • Allocate additional funding for the maintenance and protection of the environment. Work with Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority, the Community Development Division, of the Ministry of Social Transformation to develop a portfolio of tourism related projects to be undertaken exclusively by locals.
  • Establish a Product Enhancement Fund to facilitate the overall development and expansion of our product.
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