Business View Caribbean | June 2019

12 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN JUNE 2019 The #WhatCoolLooksLike campaign, currently being rolled out by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, offers cool savings on flights and accommodation for persons booking vacations to Antigua and Barbuda, with opportunities for further savings on tours, excursions, and restaurant dining, when they arrive in the country. Antigua and Barbuda’s peak season generally extends well into April, with flagship activities taking place in the destination, such as the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and the Antigua Sailing Week. During the month of April, the U.S. market led the way with 11,709 visitors arriving into Antigua and Barbuda, recording a 23.43 percent increase. Antigua and Barbuda also saw increased arrivals from the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Caribbean source markets, with increases of 9.92 percent, 32.75 percent and 14.81 percent, respectively. For the year to date, visitor air arrivals into Antigua and Barbuda are showing an increase of 9,327 or 8.59 percent visitors over the same period 2018. This equates to 117,920 visitors up to April 2019, compared to 108,593 for 2018. Tourism officials anticipate that the strong performance, so far, will continue during the summer, with the new opening of the luxurious Royalton Resort and the hosting of events on the tourism calendar such as the “Play It Out” concert, The Antigua and Barbuda Sports Fishing Tournament, The Optimist World Championships, and Antigua’s Carnival: The Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival.