Antigua and Barbuda want travellers to look beyond the beach

Renowned for its award-winning beaches, one of which stretches as far as 17 miles, the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda is currently setting out to significantly enhance its tourism market for 2015.

In a sit-down with trade partners, Marie Walker, vice president, sales & marketing, North America for the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, accompanied by Antigua and Barbuda’s Consul General Ann-Marie Layne, announced the islands’ upcoming developments the next year, as a result of the government’s intention to cater to the luxury end of the tourism market.

“We want everyone to talk about [their visit to] Antigua and Barbuda with bragging rights,” Walker said of the islands, going on to announce the construction of a new 247,570 square foot terminal at its V C Bird Intl. Airport, due to open April 28.

The terminal will feature 26 check-in counters, 20 immigration desks, VIP lounges and WiFi Internet access and may also include what Walker called the Sugarmill Chapel - a wedding chapel that will welcome visitors to get hitched right off the plane in the ‘Vegas style,’ in keeping with the Caribbean destination’s zero-residency policy with regards to marriage.

Other developments include the appointment of U.S. actor Robert De Niro as Special Economic Envoy of the twin-island nation, which followed De Niro’s signing of a memorandum of agreement last November for a $250 million investment in Barbuda that will see the renovation and expansion of a former five-star luxury resort that had closed several years ago.

It is one of several hospitality developments currently underway in Antigua, including a $2 billion mega-resort called Singulari, which will span an accumulative 1,600 acres; the construction of a brand new Sandals Beaches Resort, Beaches Antigua, which will be built on the company’s existing Grand Pineapple Resort; and South Point, a boutique hotel to be situated in the yachting community of Falmouth.

Walker also announced a regeneration of the nation’s port facilities, in the interest of expanding its position as a destination within the cruise industry, as well as improvements to its heritage sites, shopping districts, and transportation services.

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority is preparing to launch a large marketing and social media campaign this spring, following proposal approvals from the Prime Minister in early March.

For information about Antigua & Barbuda, visit www.visitantiguabarbuda.com

Photo: Ann-Marie Layne, Consul General of Antigua and Barbuda; Marie Walker, vice president, sales & marketing, North America for the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority; Tameka Wharton, sales and marketing manager, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Office; Matara Richards, Administrative Assistant, Consulate General of Antigua and Barbuda.