Against the backdrop of the annual Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Caribbean Week in New York, Antigua and Barbuda stepped into the spotlight on the opening day to lay out its impressive progress in tourism, revealing steady upward momentum in visitor numbers and growing engagement from major global source markets.
This signature annual event brings together senior tourism officials, industry stakeholders and business leaders from across the Caribbean, with a shared core mission of charting a strategic course for the future of the region’s tourism sector. Leading the Antigua and Barbuda delegation at the gathering was Minister of Tourism Charles Fernandez, who fronted the country’s presentation of its tourism achievements and growth strategy.
During the official opening ceremony, Colin James, Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, addressed attendees on the resilience that Caribbean tourism destinations have cultivated through years of industry upheaval. He emphasized that this collective ability to adapt and bounce back, paired with unified collaboration across the region, forms the backbone of the Caribbean’s long-term competitiveness as a top global travel destination.
Building on James’ remarks, Minister Fernandez delivered a detailed performance update for Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism sector. He pointed out that the nation has recorded consistent expansion across both air and sea travel segments, with a clear upward trend in demand from key source markets spanning North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean itself. Specifically, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and regional neighboring markets all showed rising interest in travel to Antigua and Barbuda, laying a solid foundation for continued growth into the rest of the year.
Throughout the remainder of Caribbean Week, a full schedule of activities is planned to advance regional tourism development. The agenda includes targeted industry meetings, networking sessions that connect local and international stakeholders, and forward-looking policy discussions designed to address shared challenges and unlock new growth opportunities for Caribbean travel as a whole.