As the Caribbean tourism industry continues its post-pandemic rebound, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has offered glowing praise for the ongoing construction of the nation’s new state-of-the-art cruise port, confirming the landmark facility remains on track to welcome its first visitors this November.
During a recent on-site inspection of the development project, Browne walked through the newly completed passenger terminals, reviewed the expanded docking infrastructure, and met with construction crews and project managers to discuss the final stages of work. He told reporters after the tour that he has been deeply impressed by the pace of work, the quality of craftsmanship, and the attention to detail that has gone into every aspect of the facility. When complete, the port will be able to accommodate the world’s largest modern cruise ships, a capability that the existing port infrastructure has never been able to support.
The new cruise port is one of the Browne administration’s flagship infrastructure investments aimed at supercharging Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism sector, which accounts for more than 60% of the nation’s gross domestic product and employs a majority of the local workforce. Project leaders noted that the development has already created hundreds of local construction jobs, and once operational, it is expected to generate thousands more permanent positions in tourism, hospitality, retail, and port services across the island.
Browne emphasized that the expanded port capacity will allow Antigua to capture a larger share of the growing global cruise market, which has seen record bookings in 2024 as travelers resume international leisure travel. He added that the facility will also include new public amenities, including a waterfront promenade, local craft retail spaces, and improved access for local residents who use the area for recreation.
Despite early concerns about supply chain delays that impacted infrastructure projects across the globe over the past three years, the project’s developers confirmed that all key materials have been delivered on schedule, and the construction is running slightly ahead of the original timeline. That puts the November opening date firmly within reach, with final testing and cosmetic finishing work set to be completed by the end of October. Local business leaders have already expressed optimism that the new port will drive a significant increase in visitor spending, boosting the incomes of small business owners across the island from taxi operators to restaurant workers and souvenir vendors.