Worth noting in Antigua & Barbuda

HaMa Films - Photocred: Alastair Fyfe

Showcase Antigua & Barbuda 2023

The Antigua and Barbuda Hotels & Tourism Association (ABHTA) and the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) will host Showcase Antigua Barbuda 2023 from June 5th to 7th. This will be the eighth instalment of the travel trade business-to-business destination event. The event will allow wholesalers and international tour operators to meet local suppliers in the tourism sector.

BARBUDANgo INITIATIVE

Over 120 species of bird can be observed on Barbuda, including the frigate and the endemic Barbuda warbler. Shortly after Hurricane Irma made the island inaccessible in 2017, a visitor’s search for the Barbuda warbler inspired barbudanGO’s 2023 Action for Habitat project. This initiative aims to raise Barbudan’s awareness of their local wildlife and establish two conservation sites, one as a mangrove nursery and the other to safeguard the warbler’s habitat. To monitor the bird population accurately, volunteers were trained by the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) using state-of-the-art equipment and data capture apps.

Barbuda Warbler

2023 Superyacht Challenge

This year’s Superyacht Challenge Antigua took place from 6th to 12th March with an action-packed week on the water. One of the first Caribbean regattas of the year, five impressive vessels took part in a series of races at Nelson’s Dockyard.

New direct flight between Antigua and Aruba

A new direct flight with British Airways now connects the twin islands with the Dutch Caribbean through its new service from Antigua to Aruba on Sundays and Tuesdays. The inaugural flight took place on 26th March.

Flamingoes on the beach in Aruba

Visa requirements abolished between Antigua & Barbuda and Serbia

An agreement was signed between the Ambassadors of Antigua & Barbuda and Serbia in Washington, abolishing visa requirements for their citizens and, at the same time, strengthening the twin islands’ passport, which now allows visa-free access to more than 160 jurisdictions. The two countries have a history of cooperation, with Antiguan students already benefitting from scholarships to study in the Balkan nation.

Calvin Ayre to help underprivileged students

Canadian/Antiguan philanthropist and businessman Calvin Ayre has started a US$200,000 initiative named the Calvin Ayre Foundation 75 Financial Care Project. The money has been donated to the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus, where 200 underprivileged students will be able to access tertiary education. Ambassador Ayre has made a series of investments in the twin islands and has been praised by Prime Minister Gaston Browne for contributing to the socio-economic development of the islands.

MOU signed with Panama for maritime cooperation

The Republic of Panama, through the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Antigua & Barbuda to recognise the qualifications of Panamanian officers and to strengthen their cooperation in the port and logistics sectors. This will allow Panamanian seafarers to serve on ships registered under the Antigua & Barbuda flag, promoting technical cooperation between the two governments.

Zero-energy solar-powered home

The Caribbean’s first “ready-designated” zero-energy house, a chic one-bedroom home powered entirely by renewable energy, has received certification from the International Living Future Institute. This stamp of approval is prestigious and recognises the achievement of local entrepreneur and architect Colin John Jenkins. The building has a total cistern capacity of 30,000 gallons, divided between potable water use and irrigation. The zero-energy house is an example of the highest aspirations in energy performance.

Zero-Energy solar-powered house

Photocred: Colin John Jenkins

Antigua Art Trail Guide

ABTA launched an Art Trail Guide to coincide with Antigua and Barbuda Art Week from 16th to 22nd April. The guide invited visitors and residents to explore the twin islands on self-guided tours of participating studios and galleries, highlighting unique spaces for art lovers. The trail allowed visitors to meet and interact with artists, learn about their inspirations, soak up the culture, and purchase art. Visitors met artists like Stephen Murphy and Gilly Gobinet in Antigua and Claire Frank in Barbuda. The trail ended at the Antigua and Barbuda Art Week Exhibit, featuring over 15 artists participating in the event.

Zemi Art Studio

By Stephen Murphy

Twin islands promoting film and TV production

The twin islands aim to become a leading hub for film and television production and investment, focusing on sustainable tourism and cultural heritage conservation. In partnership with Italian producer Andrea Iervolino, investment opportunities in film and TV production are being promoted. The islands offer ideal features for media professionals and productions, including natural beauty, top-notch facilities, a skilled workforce, and a supportive environment.

Minister of Foreign Affairs elected VP of UN Conference in Doha

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, E P Chet Greene, was elected Vice President of the United Nations conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha held in March. The Antigua & Barbuda high-level delegation also gained knowledge on how to host the fourth United Nations conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Antigua in 2024. The event would bring together world leaders, the private sector, civil society and youth to identify challenges and opportunities for these nations.

ABTA strengthening presence in Germany

Arrivals from Europe are being prioritised to benefit from the strong market economy and high consumer demand. At this year’s ITB Berlin Tourism Fair, the team from the twin islands talked with German airlines about possible future routes for the 2023/2024 season. In 2022, 21 percent of arrivals came from Europe, five percent of which were from German-speaking markets, and an additional 56,000 or 15 percent of cruise arrivals were from this market.

Wingfoil Championships in Antigua

This year’s Antigua Sailing Week (ASW) will feature a new Wingfoil class. The new sport bridges the gap between kitefoiling and windfoiling and has developed rapidly in recent years. The Antigua Wingfoil Championships will start on May 1st and feature three consecutive days of racing.

Wingfoil Championship

Ocean Cats win Talisker Atlantic Challenge 2022

An all-Spanish team won the Talisker Atlantic Challenge 2022, AKA The World’s Toughest Row, after reaching Antigua in 31 days, 17 hours, and nine minutes. The crew rowed the 3,000-mile nautical miles from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Nelson’s Dockyard, where they were given a deserved hero’s welcome.

Ocean Cats on arrival

First annual Restaurant Week

The twin islands will host the first edition of the annual Antigua & Barbuda Restaurant Week from 7th May to 21st May to promote its cuisine, people and culture. The event will showcase local home-cooked food and national dishes at street vendors and local food spots, in addition to a variety of cuisines from a range of restaurants at prix-fixe discounted prices. Visitors and residents can indulge in the country’s best food experiences and enjoy entertainment, speciality cocktails, rums, wines and spirits and local art and paintings during the event. ABTA plans to position the event to extend the country’s peak season, making it a year round destination.

Fresh Tuna at Sheer Rocks

ABTA wins Caribbean Tourist Board of the Year

The Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) won the Caribbean Tourism Board of the Year in the prestigious 2023 Caribbean Travel Awards, thanks to how they navigated the changing travel landscape, leading to record-breaking tourist arrivals.

Twin islands to export agricultural products

Antigua & Barbuda has secured the rights to export mangoes and avocadoes into the US through the efforts of local farmer Michael Francis. Lobsters will also be exported into China, with hopes that regulations can be tweaked to additionally allow a range of fisheries products to the EU.

Antigua & Barbuda spiny lobster

Antigua is first Caribbean country to allow Rastafari to grow Cannabis

The Rastafari community on the twin islands has been granted official sacramental authorisation to grow cannabis. The authorisation was presented to the community’s leaders during a signing ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office. Prime Minister Browne emphasised the need for greater collaboration between the government and the community, especially in the cannabis industry and agriculture. This historic event marks Antigua as the first Caribbean country to legalise cannabis use for the Rastafari community.

Rastafari can now grow cannabis

RORC Caribbean 600 once again a great success

RORC 600 Caribbean

Photocred: Tim Wright

The 14th edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Caribbean 600 – a 600-mile offshore race that takes its competitors around some ofthe stunning islands of the Caribbean - took place in February. Seventy boats participated in the race, which starts and finishes in Antigua, with nearly 600 crew from 30 different countries. As one of the best places in the world for sailing, the island lived up to its name and provided blustery tradewinds and swell, providing fantastic conditions.