Antigua and Barbuda was just one of the 1st Caribbean places to reopen its borders for tourism when it did so again in early June 2020. 

Now, that determination is continuing to pay out off, with tourism to the twin-island spot bouncing again and then some — with some tourism indicators eclipsing the same time period in 2019, before the pandemic. 

Antigua and Barbuda is reporting a “steady” enhance in tourism arrivals from the United States, alongside with a surge in bookings from the United Kingdom. 

“This is great news for the country’s economic system, as our major source markets re-open up to intercontinental vacation and we see our airlift and resort occupancy ranges boost,” stated Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister Charles “Max” Fernandez. “Antigua and Barbuda is open, and we are delighted that buyers can have self-confidence in traveling to our shores. We have labored steadfastly to be certain the protection of our persons and our readers, and we are happy and happy that this resulted in a reduce range of COVID conditions and by extension, reduced the unfavorable impact on our financial state.”

Arrivals in June were being at 14,503, buoyed by 12,205 visitors from the United States. 

antigua barbuda tourism back
Keyonna Beach front Vacation resort in Antigua.

That represented a 9.8 per cent increase in excess of the total of U.S. site visitors to Antigua in 2019 — when 11,115 People in america frequented the country. 

“This was right up until now our best June ever for United states of america arrivals to Antigua and Barbuda. The difficult operate of the tourism groups in the overseas markets to continue to be engaged and lively during and immediately after the pandemic has now started to bear fruit,” reported Colin C. James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. 

antigua barbuda tourism back
Jumby Bay Island off the coast of Antigua.

Extensive a person of the Caribbean’s top rated luxurious destinations, the islands are also seeing a rum pin personal jet solutions. 

In the initially 50 percent, there ended up 1,219 private jet flights to Antigua and Barbuda, an 18.6 percent raise compared to the exact same interval in 2019. 

And that’s manifesting by itself in the hotel sector, where by some accommodations are nearing 100 per cent occupancy. 

July occupancy is now projected at 71 per cent, in accordance to the ABTA, when compared to an previously prediction of 35 percent. 

For more on how to stop by Antigua, see in this article.

— CJ