Antigua and Barbuda has something for everyone

SOURCE: MIAMI HERALD- The idyllic Caribbean Island nation of Antigua and Barbuda relies on tourism for much of its wealth.

For that reason, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment of Antigua and Barbuda, Charles “Max” Fernandez, is proud of recent achievements.

Charles Fernandez, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment In the first five months of 2024, air passenger arrivals were up by 12% and cruise arrivals were up 35% compared to pre-pandemic levels, while yachting arrivals had increased by 34%.

“We are on our way to a very big year in terms of tourism,” Fernandez boasted. Visitors don’t have a shortage of new places to stay.

“We just opened the Royalton Chic that replaced the old Halcyon property. We have the Half Moon Bay property that had been dormant since 1995 and we are now going to have the One and Only hotel brand operating there.

We also have the Marriott that is going to be coming to Yepton Beach,” Fernandez highlighted. He also noted that the second phase of Antigua’s cruise port development starts this year, which is a $35 million investment centered on expansion and modernization.

For Barbuda, Fernandez added: “We have the Barbuda Beach Club that is just about completing phase one. We have the Nobu Restaurant already open, the only one in the Caribbean.

We also have the Nobu Hotel that’s coming to Barbuda. There’s a real interest in investing in Antigua and Barbuda.” The ideal place to do business Buoyed by the success of hosting the UN Small Island Developing States (SIDS) conference this May and the recent opening of the American University of Antigua’s conference facility, the country is anticipating more business and “leisure” tourism.

Some lucky international businesspeople are staying much longer, as the country introduced a digital nomad program in 2020 that allows foreign workers to remain for up to a year.

Fernandez stressed the favorable climate Antigua and Barbuda affords as one attraction. They can “sit on a beach and work remotely, get a suntan, take a break, take a swim, come back, sit down and continue to work,” he said.

A connected Caribbean nation The islands are well connected digitally. Internet penetration stands at over 91%, while negotiations are underway regarding a major subsea cable project.

This will position Antigua and Barbuda among the first in the Eastern Caribbean to have express subsea cable connections with Miami and Bogota.

Air connectivity is also excellent and Fernandez describes the upgraded international airport in Barbuda that is set to open in October as a game changer.

The $14 million project includes a new runway that is 7,100 feet in length and will accommodate most commercial airliners. Antigua’s international airport is has seen more regional flights recently and the country wants to encourage growth in this area.

“We are amongst the best in terms of airports in the region,” explained Fernandez. “We are ideally positioned, not just with our infrastructure, but also our geographical location to allow us to act as a hub to the Caribbean.”

Flight connectivity with the U.S. is expanding too. American Airlines has announced a daily service from Charlotte, North Carolina to Antigua from Dec. 5, 2024 and vowed to sustain its twice-daily flights from Miami throughout the summer and winter seasons.

Delta has also pledged to increase its frequency from Atlanta, Georgia and United is planning flights from Newark, New Jersey.

The nation’s flight and digital connectivity, coupled with its safe and attractive investment climate, is enticing a growing number of international investors to establish homes on the islands.

Those investors benefit from the services of some of the Caribbean’s most renowned designers and constructors of ultra-luxury properties. Sustainable tourism at Antigua and Barbuda’s heart Antigua and Barbuda wants to be recognized as the Caribbean’s green islands.

It has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2040 and targets 85% renewable energy in its electricity generation mix by 2030. At the UN SIDS conference, the government laid out the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, which the UN has officially adopted.

The agenda includes transitioning to sustainable and resilient tourism that places people and the planet at its core, localizing supply chains, de-risking investments and protecting biodiversity.

The country has already taken numerous steps to minimize the sector’s carbon footprint and environmental impact. For example, it is rehabilitating coral reefs and has banned sunscreens that contain chemicals detrimental to reef health.

All in all, Antigua and Barbuda is shaping up to be the premier Caribbean destination for leisure and business. It is waiting for you to arrive and enjoy it. Read the full report here: Antigua & Barbuda report

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