Caribbean Times 2nd Issue - Tuesday 27th September 2016

10 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g
Tuesday 27th September 2016
cont’d from pg 9
appeal to visitors. The result
of these increases in room
availability will ultimately
help us to attract even more
airlift. While outside factors
are always going to affect
tourism, the travel & tourism
industry is a key force for
good, and it has proven time
and again that it is strong and
adaptable enough to face any
challenges. It will continue
to grow, to create jobs, and
to bring economic and social
benefits.
We must continue our
efforts to ensure we are providing
the best tourism experience
possible to visitors at
every single touch point.
Considering the global
importance of tourism – almost
1.2 billion people travel
abroad each year – it is no
wonder that there is a day
dedicated to tourism. This has
exponentially grown from 25
million tourists in 1950 – you
can see the global scale of
tourism and how it has become
a powerful economic
sector – not just for Antigua
and Barbuda.
Each year, World Tourism
Day has a targeted theme, and
the one for this year is promoting
universal accessibility.
Accessible tourism for all
is about the creation of environments
that can cater to
the needs of everyone. This
is something Antigua and
Barbuda has been focused on
– we want to ensure, where
possible that those with disabilities
or young children,
seniors and other individuals
with special mobility access
requirements are still able to
fully appreciate everything
Antigua and Barbuda has to
offer.
When designing the new
airport we were insistent on
providing jet-bridges, escalators
and elevators with braille
control buttons in the terminal
making it much easier for visually
impaired passenger or
those traveling with wheelchairs
and other mobility issues.
The process of boarding
a plane from a wheelchair or
other mobile aiding devices
can be incredibly embarrassing
and demeaning when being
forced to do so through
stairs. We felt that no one
should feel this discomfort
when traveling and insisted
on these critical amenities that
have improved mobility access
for those passengers with
special needs.
Additionally, many of our
local properties have implemented
ramps and other aides
to help those with mobility
issues, a clear indication that
this issue is high on our agenda
as we constantly seek to
enhance our tourism facilities.
Across our twin islands,
we are providing clear and
reliable information, efficient
transportation and public services
in an effort to make Antigua
and Barbuda a physical
environment that is easy to
navigate.
The Government is investing
in improving our overall
cruise product as well, with
plans already in motion for
developing St John’s Harbour
to include extensions of the
piers that will accommodate
the largest vessels, along with
the construction of an additional
pier to enable up to
six (6) ships to be berthed simultaneously.
This improvement
includes improving the
wheelchair accessibility as
well. The development of the
quayside comes with the added
benefits of new high-end
shopping and facilities such as
a cruise passenger terminal to
re-position the destination to
take advantage of home porting
opportunities. We are actively
pursuing opportunities
to be a homeport with several
European based cruise lines
in an effort to diversify our
cruise ship offering.
I am pleased to report that
Pullmantur who will make 19
calls this season will be offering
home porting services
from Antigua and Barbuda for
the first time.
Other major projects the
Government is investing in includes
the Fort James Development
project that is aimed
at leveraging the strength of
one of our best beaches by including
authentic local restaurants,
boutiques, tours and
attractions, an outdoor amphitheater
as well as a museum
detailing the unique history of
this Fort.
All of our products, investments
and enhancements ultimately
add value and improve
the customer experience. We
must continue to improve our
amenities in the area of fine
dining, exciting tours and excursions,
first class entertainment,
and International standard
of duty free shopping.
These enhancements are all
priority areas of consideration
for the Government.
It is imperative that Antigua
and Barbuda offers a
cont’d on pg 11