ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

More than 700,000 visitors arrived in A & B via cruise lines in 2011, representing the lion share of arrivals to the destination, generating more than $860M in economic activity.
– Nathan Dundas, Antigua and Barbuda
Cruise Tourism Association

In March A & B Buzz includes:
Off Deck: Adventure Beyond the Shore
Beachpedia: Beachcomb for a year in A & B
A & B Women in Travel
The Cooles Jobs in A & B Tourism
Docking Details & more

Click HERE to read the March Issue NOW! 
 

Antigua & Barbuda’s North American Tourism offices have released the March issue of the A&B BUZZ which covers the destination’s Cruise Tourism industry.
 
March is a peak month in Caribbean cruising and the issue highlights Antigua and Barbuda’s exceptional cruise access and facilities. It also takes a look at the destination’s ideal geographic location, which facilitates itinerary planners in preparing 7-day or longer trips from many ports in the United States.
A range of land and sea attractions beyond the port environs in St. John’s are featured as day tours and options for cruise passengers to maximize their port time and experience in Antigua and Barbuda. In Docking Details a range of activities are presented: from sightseeing, sailing, snorkeling, duty free shopping, casinos, safari and zip line tours and local style lunching.

A beach guide Beachpedia provides travel time, number of beach bars and nearby hotels, water sports and attractions at 31 of the destination’s top beaches. This quick reference tool allows visitors to select the beach that best matches their interests.
The issue also looks at “Same Day Weddings,” a growing attraction among cruise passengers who want to expedite the matrimonial process. With no residency requirement to apply for a marriage license, getting married in Antigua and Barbuda during a cruise stop is easy.

The accommodations sector is also highlighted, as many cruise passengers choose to spend the day at a local resort. Rex Resorts at Hawskbill and Halycon Cove, Jolly Beach Resort and the Grand Pineapple Resort were featured as some of the more popular properties that offer day-passes.

The BUZZ also celebrates March as “Women’s History Month” and looks at women’s travel preferences. The issue points out, that women, who are typically the primary decision makers in today’s travel decisions, are now taking more cruises, either together or solo. Five local female business leaders in Tourism are also featured, demonstrating that women continue to make significant in-roads in managing A & B’s travel business.

US Director of Tourism Derede Samuel-Whitlock pledged her team’s continued support in promoting the cruise industry. She said, “Ideally, we would like to influence more of our cruise passengers to return for longer stays. The goal is to get visitors to sample the attractions, beaches, cuisine, music and hospitality. If the experience has been good we will be better able to influence them to return to for a longer stay to fully experience all that Antigua and Barbuda has to offer.”  Whitlock emphasized the need for all the tourism sectors to work more closely together in promoting the destination.

The A & B BUZZ is a monthly online publication that provides a comprehensive overview of the destination’s key strengths and features product updates, special promotions, and industry news as a core part of the North American Tourism Offices’ digital strategy.

Presented in a lifestyle format, utilizing a multimedia combination of print, audio, video, and social media, The BUZZ provides a cost effective conduit between the destination and the travel industry.