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Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has stepped forward to defend a major planned luxury tourism development at Sandals Grande Antigua, framing the project as a critical investment to keep the island nation competitive in the fast-growing global high-end travel market. During his weekly public radio address Saturday, Browne pushed back against widespread criticism of the proposed overwater bungalows, laying out his case that the expansion will boost national tourism revenue while safeguarding public access to one of the country’s most popular coastal destinations, Dickenson Bay.

Sandals Resorts international has already announced plans to inject more than $100 million into the expansion project, which will add more than 100 new guest rooms to the Sandals Grande Antigua property. The centerpiece of the upgrade is the addition of approximately 16 exclusive overwater bungalows, a luxury accommodation option that has become a major draw for high-spending travelers worldwide.

To address widespread public concern over restricted beach access, Browne confirmed the government has placed clear geographic restrictions on where the structures can be constructed. The bungalows will not be sited along the central stretch of Dickenson Bay’s beach, he explained. Instead, development will be shifted south toward the existing groyne, a positioning that ensures the structures will not block public use of the main beach area. Browne emphasized that the bungalows are built over open water, not on the beach itself, so fears of restricted access to Dickenson Bay are unfounded. “These are not going to take up beach,” he said. “Dickenson Bay will still be accessible to all stakeholders.”

The prime minister pushed back against narrative that the country already has an oversupply of hotel rooms, arguing that turning away high-value investment would be economic folly. He pointed to top global luxury destinations including the Maldives, Bora Bora, and the Seychelles, which have built entire world-renowned tourism economies around premium offerings like overwater villas and bungalows. Currently, Antigua and Barbuda generates roughly $2 billion in annual tourism revenue, a figure Browne said the country can and must grow to strengthen its economy.

Luxury overwater accommodations command premium nightly rates that far outpace standard hotel rooms, Browne noted. He cited existing overwater units at Antigua’s Royalton resort, which already regularly bring in roughly $3,000 per night and remain consistently popular with travelers seeking ultra-luxury experiences. “These units provide a high yield,” Browne said. “They’re far more exciting. It enhances the product and places us in a more competitive space compared to other regional countries involved in tourism.”

Browne also addressed two other common points of criticism: environmental risk and structural vulnerability to hurricanes, a persistent threat for Caribbean island nations. He said the project will implement science-backed mitigation measures to limit any negative ecological impacts, and noted that overwater structures have a proven track record of withstanding major storms in hurricane-prone regions across the region. Even in the worst-case scenario that a storm damages the structures, Browne added, the development is fully insured, allowing for full reconstruction after extreme weather events. Existing overwater developments across Antigua have already weathered major hurricanes without catastrophic failure, he said, proving that the bungalows can be built safely and sustainably.

Sandals Executive Chairman Adam Stewart has told the prime minister the proposed Antigua overwater bungalows could become one of the most attractive luxury offerings in the entire Caribbean, Browne revealed, adding that the new units will feature a unique design that sets them apart from existing overwater accommodations already operating on the island.

The expansion is part of a broader national strategy by the Antigua and Barbuda government to grow the country’s total room stock and solidify its position as a top-tier global tourism destination. Browne reiterated that attracting high-spending luxury travelers remains one of the most critical priorities for growing the country’s overall economy and expanding revenue from the tourism sector, which is the backbone of Antigua and Barbuda’s national economy.

“As far as we can build out more of those overwater bungalows and they do not impact other users and stakeholders, I think we should encourage them,” he said. “Because it will help to uplift our product.”

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.

One of the Caribbean’s most prominent resort operators, Sandals Resorts International, has reached a binding agreement to pay the Antiguan government $6.5 million to resolve lingering tax disputes, clearing the path for a $100 million expansion of its flagship Sandals Grande Antigua property. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne confirmed the settlement during his weekly public radio address Saturday, noting that recent talks with the resort’s top leadership were collaborative and productive across a wide range of operational and strategic issues.

“We had some outstanding issues with taxes and we’ve settled for $6.5 million, so they’ll be paying the government $6.5 million shortly,” Browne told listeners. “From what I understand, the funds have already been placed in an escrow account to finalize the process.”

The negotiations covered more than just outstanding tax obligations, with discussions spanning resort operations, new capital investment, and worker welfare, according to the prime minister. The centerpiece of the planned growth is a large-scale expansion that will add more than 100 new guest rooms to the existing property, including 16 luxury overwater bungalows targeted at high-net-worth international travelers.

Antiguan officials have already given the project formal approval, but imposed a key zoning requirement to preserve public access to the island’s popular beaches. Instead of siting the overwater accommodations in the central stretch of the resort’s beachfront, the bungalows will be located at the southern end of the property near an existing groyne, a structural barrier designed to reduce coastal erosion. This zoning adjustment ensures the main beach remains open and accessible to other visitors and local users, Browne explained.

“What we’ve said to them is that they cannot build those overwater bungalows in the middle of the beach,” the prime minister said. “They’ll be going southwards towards the groyne so that they do not impede the use of the beach by other users.”

Browne emphasized that the expansion aligns with the government’s broader tourism strategy, which prioritizes growing overall accommodation capacity while upgrading the country’s product offerings to attract higher-spending tourists. He pointed to the proven popularity and profitability of overwater bungalows in iconic luxury destinations such as the Maldives and Bora Bora, where these exclusive accommodations can command nightly rates in the thousands of dollars.

“These units provide a very high yield,” Browne noted. “They help to enhance the tourism product and place us in a more competitive position in the global luxury travel market.”

Beyond infrastructure and expansion, talks also centered heavily on improving employee support at the resort. Browne said he raised the issue of working parents with young children, who often face barriers to employment when they lack access to affordable childcare. He proposed that Sandals establish an on-site crèche (daycare facility) to support local and regional staff members, eliminating a major obstacle to consistent work participation.

To the prime minister’s satisfaction, resort executives responded positively to the proposal. “They have agreed, actually. They see it as a good idea and they say they’ll definitely look into it and see how they can put that in place as part of the infrastructure to facilitate the staff,” Browne reported. He added that the on-site childcare facility would boost local workforce participation and help employees better balance their professional and family responsibilities.

During the discussions, Sandals leadership also shared details about its current compensation practices for local workers. According to data provided by the company, entry-level employees earn more than $4,000 per month when including gratuities and additional earnings beyond base wages. Browne acknowledged that this figure came directly from the resort, but called the reported pay level “decent” for Antiguan workers.

Sandals also reported that it contributes more than $50 million annually to Antigua and Barbuda’s local economy through employee wages, local procurement of goods and services, and regular taxes and government fees. As the country continues to see steady growth in international visitor arrivals, the expansion will increase the resort’s contribution to the national tourism sector, which is the backbone of Antigua and Barbuda’s economy, and grow the country’s overall available room stock.

The project will now move forward with detailed planning and mandatory environmental assessments before construction begins. Browne reiterated that the government is committed to fostering responsible private tourism investment that balances economic growth with two core priorities: protecting public access to the country’s valuable coastal assets and safeguarding the rights and interests of local workers.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that two major global hospitality players, including France-based Club Med, have formally expressed interest in purchasing Jolly Beach Resort, one of the Caribbean nation’s most high-value tourism assets, as the government navigates decisions over the property’s long-term future.

In remarks delivered during his weekly public radio program on Saturday, Browne shared new details about ongoing discussions with prospective investors, noting the beachfront resort has rebounded strongly to turn consistent profits since the government took it over amid crippling financial distress years earlier.

“Club Med has made clear it wants to acquire the property,” Browne stated, adding that European travel giant TUI is also lined up to hold talks with government leadership next week to lay out its own interest in the site.

Despite the overtures from major international brands, Browne emphasized the government is prioritizing one non-negotiable condition in any potential sale deal: no drastic, long-term reduction to the resort’s current room count. Club Med’s preliminary interest is tied to a full redevelopment of the property, a project that would temporarily take hundreds of rooms offline at once, contracting Antigua and Barbuda’s total tourism accommodation inventory significantly during construction.

“We cannot afford to lose that many rooms all at once,” Browne explained. “A phased approach, where 100 or 200 rooms are taken offline at a time, works for us because we can maintain overall room capacity through the process.”

Jolly Beach Resort ranks among the largest hotel properties in Antigua and Barbuda, drawing roughly 75,000 guests to the island nation each year. Under current government ownership, the site generates approximately $4 million in annual profit, marking a major turnaround from years of mounting debt and operational failure that preceded the state’s takeover.

The government stepped in to acquire control of the resort when it faced insurmountable debt and operational collapse. A targeted restructuring process, which included selling off a portion of the wider property, allowed the administration to clear all outstanding liabilities and severance payments to former staff while returning the hotel to profitability. It is currently operated under management contract by Elite Island Resorts, which Browne praised for delivering strong performance to date.

Earlier this year, the government unveiled plans for a $13.5 million standalone upgrade of the resort, including modernized air conditioning, enhanced high-speed internet infrastructure, and a new 500-person conference center designed to expand the property’s appeal to the growing MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) travel segment.

Room capacity remains a central pillar of Antigua and Barbuda’s national tourism growth strategy, as the country works to boost annual visitor arrivals and expand its market share in the Caribbean. Government officials have repeatedly framed Jolly Beach Resort as a strategic national asset, thanks to its large footprint, prime beachfront location, and consistent contribution to local tourism revenue and employment.

As negotiations with Club Med, TUI, and any other prospective bidders move forward, Browne said protecting the resort’s ongoing economic contribution and existing room capacity will remain the government’s top priorities. He added that if a sale that meets the nation’s requirements cannot be reached, the government is fully prepared to retain ownership of the profitable asset.

“Wherever possible, we will continue to hold Jolly Beach as a critical national asset,” Browne said.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has revealed a $13.5 million government-led upgrade initiative for Jolly Beach Resort, a key strategic asset designed to bolster the twin-island nation’s fast-growing tourism economy. The announcement, made during Browne’s weekly Saturday radio broadcast, frames the investment as a deliberate move to elevate guest experiences and expand the resort’s capabilities to host large-scale international conferences and corporate events.