For the second straight year, the twin-island Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda wrapped up a successful hosting of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) flagship annual industry gathering, Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) 2026. Held in May, the event aligned with the country’s annual Culinary Month, drawing hundreds of travel trade professionals, global tour operators, and international media to experience firsthand the destination’s diverse, world-class tourism product against the backdrop of its iconic white-sand coasts and vibrant local culture.
As the Caribbean’s preeminent private-sector tourism advocacy and networking body, CHTA represents national hospitality and tourism associations across more than 30 regional destinations. Its annual CTM event serves as a critical hub for connecting global travel sellers, airline partners, and industry buyers with local Caribbean tourism stakeholders, facilitating targeted business meetings, professional networking, and deep-dive destination exploration that drives future booking volume across the region.
During a formal press conference held on the sidelines of CTM 2026, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment, Honourable Charles H. Fernández, alongside Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) CEO Colin C. James, unveiled robust early-year tourism data that points to a sustained upward trajectory for the country’s core economic sector. The nation logged 110,832 stay-over visitor arrivals between January and March 2026, marking a 6.7% year-over-year increase from the 103,843 arrivals recorded in the first quarter of 2025.
Growth held steady across all three months of the quarter: January arrivals rose 5% to 36,052, February climbed 6% to 36,133, and March delivered the sharpest gain of the period, with an 8% jump pushing total arrivals to 38,097. The United Kingdom posted the fastest growth among established source markets, recording a 14% year-over-year rise in visitor numbers for the quarter.
The United States retained its position as the destination’s largest single source market, accounting for 46% of all Q1 2026 stay-over arrivals. Europe followed as the second-largest source region at 34%, with Canada contributing 12%, other Caribbean nations 5%, Latin America 1%, and remaining global markets 2%. To build on this momentum, national tourism officials are actively expanding marketing and connectivity efforts to tap into emerging growth corridors in Latin America and Africa, responding to a global consumer shift toward authentic, off-the-beaten-path travel experiences.
The solid performance in stay-over travel is matched by equally strong projections for Antigua and Barbuda’s cruise tourism segment. For full-year 2026, the nation forecasts a 21.9% increase in total cruise arrivals compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels, pushing total annual cruise visitors to a projected 894,469, up from 733,526 six years prior. Total annual ship calls are set to rise from 388 to 483, a gain driven in large part by expanded home-porting operations that allow cruise lines to base itineraries directly out of Antigua and Barbuda.
To accommodate this growing cruise demand, a new $30 million cruise terminal opened to the public on January 24, 2026, as a core component of the government’s broader Upland Development Project. The facility is designed to modernize the arrival experience for cruise passengers and expand the nation’s total annual cruise capacity, with full completion of all associated project upgrades scheduled for July 2026.
Expanded air connectivity is also opening the destination to a broader range of global travelers. In May 2026 alone, three new routes launched: Sunrise Airways introduced twice-weekly service between Antigua and the Dominican Republic on May 1, Liat Air launched twice-weekly flights connecting Antigua to Guadeloupe on May 8, and Nigeria’s Air Peace is set to launch a twice-monthly route between Antigua and Lagos, with a stop in Barbados, starting May 25. On the infrastructure side, major upgrades are ongoing at V.C. Bird International Airport, the nation’s primary air gateway, including runway rehabilitation and expansion. On the sister island of Barbuda, the newly opened Burton-Nibbs International Airport has been purpose-built to support the island’s fast-growing eco-luxury tourism segment.
Major investment in new accommodation is also underway to meet rising visitor demand. The 71-suite, 7-villa Moon Gate Hotel & Spa is on track to open to guests before the end of 2026, while Barbuda’s Nobu Beach Inn is currently under construction with completion targeted for late 2026. Looking ahead to the end of the decade, the 84-room, 127-residence Nikki Beach Resort and Spa is targeted for a 2029 launch, Rosewood Hotel Barbuda, with 50 suites and 35 private residences, is slated to open in 2028, and a 114-key Marriott Leisure World Hotel with eight overwater villas is also in active development.
Fresh off being named “Caribbean’s Best Meetings and Conference Destination” by the World Travel Awards, Antigua and Barbuda is preparing for another high-profile global event later this year: the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled to take place November 1-4 under the official theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.” The event is expected to draw between 3,000 and 5,000 delegates, official participants, and global media, and will make history as the first CHOGM to include a public concert and international cricket tournament as part of its official program.
Underpinning all the destination’s tourism growth is a long-standing government commitment to developing sustainable, high-value tourism that benefits local communities. Key conservation initiatives include the award-winning Redonda Island ecological restoration project, widespread coral reef protection programs, strengthened anti-overfishing enforcement, and a deliberate policy strategy to expand local community participation in the broader tourism economy.
As global economic uncertainty continues to shape traveler decision-making, more tourists are prioritizing safe, stable, welcoming destinations for their getaways—a trend Antigua and Barbuda is well positioned to capitalize on. The dual-island nation’s long-held reputation for political calm, easy air and sea access, and genuine local hospitality has cemented its position as a core leader of the Caribbean’s global identity as a peaceful, desirable travel region.