Antigua Yachting Mecca

The need for a structural approach to the Yachting industry begins when we first see it as a national sport, and not as a foreign investment with foreign interest. Our Yachting product is arguably the best worldwide and this knowledge and the pride which should be associated with it, needs to resonate among all of us. The potential for our people to take advantage of the many opportunities available in this sector is long over due. In the second term, the UPP will:

• We will create a Yachting desk at the Ministry of Sports with linkages to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Environment
• The Ministry of Youth and Sports will employ a Yachting Liaison Officer who has full knowledge of the industry and can design programmes to promote the industry and the island and who will explore opportunities for youth participation and apprenticeships
• The Ministry of Sports will collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism to publish a media guide and yachting magazine to allow for better and more coverage of events in the industry
• The UPP will invest in the formation of a yachting school offering courses covering all aspects of the industry
• The Government will work with the yachtsmen to create a foundation to subsidize the expense of the training school.
• We will invest in the necessary infrastructure to safeguard this industry, allowing for greater returns by increasing our marketing capabilities
• The Government will ensure proper and sufficient CCTV cameras are installed in all our yachting areas
• We will commission a team to revisit and make recommendations on the customs and immigration aspects of the industry to allow for greater efficiencies