Work is now underway on a high-profile luxury residential-tourism development at Willoughby Bay on the southeast coast of Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed, calling the project a key example of the nation’s strategy to drive foreign investment and grow its tourism sector.
Browne shared the update during his weekly public radio broadcast Saturday, outlining that the scheme is being developed by an investor who participates in the country’s popular Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP). The international investor was first connected to the Willoughby Bay site years ago, and has since moved through all planning phases to launch active construction, the prime minister explained.
The Willoughby Bay build forms part of a wave of high-end residential and tourism developments unfolding across Antigua and Barbuda, as national leaders work to diversify the country’s tourism product and draw increasing volumes of foreign direct investment. Browne emphasized that global demand for luxury tourism experiences continues to climb, and projects like this one are critical to broadening the nation’s economic foundation beyond traditional tourism offerings.
Alongside confirming active construction, Browne used the update to reaffirm the government’s commitment to balancing ambitious economic growth targets with rigorous environmental protection and maintained public access to the country’s treasured coastal landscapes. Environmental impact assessments and sustainable planning remain non-negotiable components of the approval process for all large-scale developments, he stressed.
The Willoughby Bay announcement came during a broader conversation about the country’s growing pipeline of tourism investment, including the planned expansion of Sandals resort properties and the addition of new overwater bungalows at Dickenson Bay. While Browne did not share full detailed blueprints for the final Willoughby Bay development during the broadcast, he confirmed that construction is moving forward steadily as one of a slate of major projects designed to strengthen both Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism and real estate sectors.
Situated in one of the island nation’s most picturesque coastal regions, the completed development is projected to deliver widespread economic benefits: it has already created construction jobs, and will support ongoing employment and generate increased visitor spending once it opens to residents and guests. For years, Antigua and Barbuda’s government has identified tourism-linked infrastructure and development as a core engine of national economic activity and a central pillar of its long-term growth strategy.
Browne noted that the country will continue prioritizing strategic positioning to attract global investors, while expanding the range of accommodation and residential property options available to international visitors and second-home owners. Additional details on the full scope and construction timeline for the Willoughby Bay development are expected to be released as work progresses in the coming months.