Prime Minister Gaston Browne has unveiled an ambitious national strategy to transform Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism economy, calling for a dramatic escalation from current visitor numbers to an eventual target of 10 million tourists annually. During his appearance on the Browne and Browne Show, the leader articulated his vision for substantial economic transformation through tourism sector expansion.
The Prime Minister characterized the nation’s present tourism performance as merely preliminary, asserting that the industry remains in its developmental infancy despite recent progress. While acknowledging that cruise passenger arrivals have doubled in recent years, Browne emphasized that stay-over tourist figures remain critically below potential.
Current estimates indicate approximately 350,000 to 400,000 overnight visitors annually—numbers the Prime Minister dismissed as fundamentally inadequate. “Especially when it comes to overnight tourists… 350,000-400,000 tourists… that is not enough,” Browne stated during the broadcast.
As an initial benchmark, the administration targets one million overnight visitors, which Browne described as a modest starting point. The Prime Minister outlined the economic rationale behind this expansion, estimating that each additional million tourists could generate approximately one billion dollars in economic activity.
Browne urged citizens to embrace ambitious thinking rather than limited aspirations, reiterating his government’s commitment to establishing Antigua and Barbuda as a premium tourism destination and “lifestyle superpower.” This vision is currently being pursued through strategic investments in cruise infrastructure, home-porting operations, and luxury tourism development designed to boost arrivals across all market segments.