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ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA OFF TO A FLYING START AT WTM
Tuesday 9th November 2010



Minister of Tourism John Maginley and CEO of ABTA engaged in WTM Meetings

Minister of Tourism, The Honourable John Maginley is describing the first two days of World Travel Market as “very productive” with the 2011 outlook for Antigua and Barbuda being “significantly better than last year”.



A full delegation of tourism stakeholders from Antigua and Barbuda are currently at Excel, London for the four day event considered the premier global show for the travel industry with over 40,000 travel industry professionals in attendance.  Antigua and Barbuda’s newly designed stand with its improved functionality was a buzz of activity with the destination’s tourism officials and hotel partners.

The Tourism Minister noted that, “from all reports our image is again becoming very positive especially in the UK Market.”

The start of 2010 has been challenging for UK arrivals into Antigua and Barbuda, with hotels facing low occupancy as UK consumers sought to cut back on holiday travel as they grappled with the recession in their economy and the newly introduced air passenger duty (APD) tax.



Meetings held at World Travel Market have however begun to reveal that things are looking up for Antigua and Barbuda, with tour operators and airlines noting an increase in figures for the destination. Virgin Atlantic Airlines will now have two of its three winter flights this season dedicated to Antigua only, with all three flights being direct turn-around service from winter 2011/12. British Airways (BA) has also expressed confidence in the destination with an additional service to commence next summer making a total of six flights per week. Daily BA winter service resumed to the destination on October 26th of this year.

“We are being told that Antigua is bucking the trend and doing better than some of the other Caribbean Islands”, said Hilary Modeste, UK Director of Tourism.

Modeste is optimistic that 2011 will be a better year for UK arrivals.

CEO of the Tourism Authority Colin C. James also endorsed this view. “Our airline partners are reporting that figures are up for 2011. The majority of hotels on stand are reporting figures will be up for the first quarter of 2011, with some reporting percentage increases of 12% over the same period last year” said James.




A number of commitments have also been agreed by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority to secure greater airlift into the destination. 
New Italian Charter Blue Panorama replaces the Livingston Charter this winter while negotiations for additional airlift to the destination from UK and Europe remain ongoing.

Meanwhile, one of Antigua and Barbuda’s properties the Jolly Beach Resort and Spa walked away with the Virgin Holidays 2010 silver award in the “Holiday for All” category which was presented at Virgin Holidays much talked about annual party, held to recognize key tourism partners.

“The entire staff and management of Jolly Beach Resort and Spa are proud and appreciative of the award, said a pleased Ted Isaac, general manager of the resort. It means that the trade is recognizing our efforts. And coming from Virgin, to be selected in this position, is indeed very gratifying.”




Sports tourism in Antigua and Barbuda also received an additional push with the launch of the Richie Richardson Cricket Academy.

In the presence of a select group of UK journalists, Richie Richardson revealed the 2012 plan for the academy designed to encourage young UK cricketers to travel to Antigua for hands-on cricket sessions with Richardson and other noted test cricket legends at Antigua’s test match venue the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium. Former West Indies Cricket Captains Sir Vivian Richards and Brian Lara were on stand for the launch.

World Travel Market comes to an end on Thursday.  Hoteliers and Tourism Officials will spend the remaining days deepening their relationship with their UK partners.


 


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