Antigua and Barbuda has had a huge impact at World Travel Market in London over the first two days of the show. The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority has reported positive meetings and successful relationship building and there has been encouraging feedback from both the trade and media on activity over the past year.
Tourism industry meetings were attended by the Honourable Asot Michael, Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment & Energy; Richard Skerritt, Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and Paula Frederick-Hunte, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment & Energy.
Meetings were held with the four key airlines; British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Thomas Cook UK and Condor (Germany). Overall, the feedback is that 2016 has been a year of consolidation after large growth for the airlines in 2015. The four airlines gave the encouraging feedback that the current UK to Antigua airline routes have all increased in profitability over the past year. The airline partners also discussed that they are pleased with the tourism authority’s promotional activity to increase destination awareness. The new hotel developments were discussed and the airlines are open to working with the islands to increase air lift proportionately in 2018/19.