ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

UK Director of Tourism Hilary Modeste and former captain of the West Indies Richie Richardson, recently teamed up to participate in several back-to-back interviews with BBC radio stations and other UK stations with audiences reaching 2,496,000.

“Cricket is a passion on our island and there is no better way to experience authentic Antigua than watching a match or playing the locals.  With sunshine all year round, 365 beautiful white sand beaches to choose from and an insatiable passion for sports of all kinds, Antigua is the ultimate Caribbean sports tourism destination” said Modeste during the interview sessions.

In seven hours, the duo talked to 16 radio stations covering London, Leeds, Somerset, Surrey, Isle of Man, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol, West Yorkshire, Chester, Cornwall, and others with syndication throughout the entire UK.

“I’ve always believed that down-the-line interviews are a great way to gain exposure for the destination” said the UK Director who felt that Antigua and Barbuda “certainly scored a six” with this activity.  Modeste expressed pleasure that Richardson, one of Antigua’s cricketing ambassadors and a well-recognized personality in the UK was able to join the tourist office to discuss “a subject such as cricket that is so synonymous with Antigua.” 

Richardson, who is in the UK playing cricket with Lashings World X1, is also promoting sports tourism in Antigua and Barbuda as one of the organizers behind the November 17 – 21 cricket fest scheduled to take place at the Sir Vivian Richards’ Cricket Stadium.

“The interviews gave us an opportunity to reach out to a wide audience throughout the UK.  We were well received, the Cricket fest was well received and it definitely piqued people’s interest in coming to Antigua and Barbuda.”

Antigua and Barbuda’s visitor arrival figures are known to significantly increase during months when major sporting events are being hosted.

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority indicated its support for the upcoming cricket fest and other sporting events, with the aim of boosting sports tourism in the country.

(Photo Caption: UK Director of Tourism Hilary Modeste, and Richie Richardson “Score Six” with in-studio interviews)