GROWTH SECTORS

Tourism

Antigua and Barbuda has had a tourism industry since the 1940s and was the first to be developed in the Eastern Caribbean. The industry saw significant growth in the 1980s and 1990s with the redevelopment of the St. John’s Waterfront and enhancement and addition of other attractions such as Nelson’s Dockyard and Jolly Harbour.

Tourism: An Attractive Investment

Landscape, climate and heritage Access Skills Incentives Potential for growth

Landscape, climate and heritage

Landscape, climate and heritage

Three hundred and sixty five beaches, as well as forests and hilltop locations. A tropical climate. A number of colonial heritage sites.

Access

Access

The international airport has direct flights to Europe, the United States and Canada and to other countries in the region. The cruise ship piers in St John's are being developed to include a cruise terminal and possibility for home-berthing. The 5th Cruise Ship Berth was completed in 2021, however delays in the dredging of the St. John’s Harbour has meant that the OASIS Class vessels are still not able to dock.

Skills

Incentives

Potential for growth

The beach is just the beginning

While beaches are a natural asset, the Government is keen to focus on niches. These include:

Weddings and honeymoons

Yachting and marine services

Beach activities

Culinary

Colonial Heritage

Cricket

Cruises

Conventions

Growth in Visitor Arrivals

In 2023, Antigua and Barbuda attracted a total of 955,246 visitors to its shores. Of this number, 281,896 arrived by Air and 673,350 arrived by Sea. Arrivals by Sea for 2023 accounted for 70% of the total number of visitors, while 30% of the total number of visitors arrived by air.

Antigua and Barbuda saw significant increases in Air Arrivals in all source markets. Sea arrivals also saw an increase. Leisure, Recreation and Holidays continue to be the main purpose of visit sited by visitors. The average length of stay by visitors in 2023 is 10.44 days.

Developing the Capital

St John’s Development Corporation was established in 1986 by Act of Parliament to redevelop the downtown city centre and quayside. Regeneration projects have included Heritage Quay, The Exhibition and Cultural Center at Perry Bay and most recently, the Vendor’s Mall.

The latest phase of this renewal is the St John’s Masterplan that will centre around several blocks of downtown St John’s by the quayside. The masterplan foresees the creation of a pedestrian promenade linking at either end two transport centres to facilitate the flow of cruise passengers to buses and taxes.

In between will be three new squares, a streetcar and a new retail centre. Buildings will be painted in bright local colours and food and beverage outlets will be franchised from international brands.