Caribbean Times 2nd Issue - Tuesday 27th September 2016
Caribbean Times 2nd Issue - Tuesday 27th September 2016
Caribbean Times 2nd Issue - Tuesday 27th September 2016
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<strong>Tuesday</strong> <strong>27th</strong> <strong>September</strong> <strong>2016</strong> c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 11<br />
cont’d from pg 10<br />
memorable and unique visitor<br />
experience, not as a oneoff<br />
outcome, but as an all the<br />
time phenomenon. I reiterate<br />
this message time and again,<br />
given the importance it has of<br />
earning repeat visitors as well<br />
as attracting new ones through<br />
the sharing of positive experiences<br />
via the social media.<br />
While the Ministry of<br />
Tourism and the Tourism<br />
Authority has been diligently<br />
working to not only improve<br />
our on-island offerings and<br />
raise the visibility of Antigua<br />
and Barbuda around the world<br />
– it is up to each and every citizen<br />
of Antigua and Barbuda<br />
to ensure we truly are providing<br />
the best experience at<br />
every touch point. Even for<br />
those that might not be working<br />
directly in tourism.<br />
One of the most wonderful<br />
things about the people of<br />
Antigua and Barbuda is our<br />
warmth and friendly nature.<br />
So I encourage everyone to<br />
share this warmth, humour<br />
and hospitality with everyone<br />
they interact with. It this way<br />
we all become true ambassadors<br />
for our beautiful country.<br />
By 2019, it is estimated<br />
that the total number of<br />
stay over tourist arrivals by<br />
air will surpass 280,000 and<br />
the number of cruise arrivals<br />
will likely exceed 1,000,000<br />
cruise tourists. We must, at<br />
a minimum, ensure that we<br />
meet these projected figures<br />
or even exceed them. We cannot<br />
become complacent on<br />
our recent success and expect<br />
this growth to continue organically.<br />
We need to be strategic,<br />
dynamic, proactive and adaptive<br />
to all opportunities for<br />
strengthening and growing<br />
our tourism industry.<br />
This is more important<br />
than ever as competition for<br />
tourism dollars is fiercer than<br />
ever before. We are competing<br />
with the rest of the <strong>Caribbean</strong><br />
and in particular with the<br />
newest ‘hot spots’ – Cuba and<br />
the Dominican Republic.<br />
To put it in some context,<br />
while Antigua and Barbuda<br />
have been seeing an average<br />
20% year over year growth<br />
from the US market – remarkable<br />
figures – this unfortunately<br />
pales in comparison<br />
to Cuba. The number of US<br />
tourists to Cuba has increased<br />
61% in the first half of <strong>2016</strong><br />
and these numbers are anticipated<br />
to grow, particularly<br />
once newly announced regular<br />
commercial airline service<br />
commences.<br />
Another key issue combating<br />
the region, and Antigua<br />
and Barbuda, is the Zika<br />
virus. The region overall has<br />
seen the impact of cancelled<br />
group reservations and felt<br />
the effect of those choosing<br />
not to travel if they are pregnant<br />
or are in the child-bearing<br />
years of their life. This of<br />
course impacts the Romance<br />
tourism sector – again – a key<br />
segment of the <strong>Caribbean</strong> and<br />
Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism.<br />
Thankfully, due to the<br />
diligence and proactivity of<br />
the various health agencies<br />
and Government, Antigua and<br />
Barbuda have been able to<br />
minimize the spread of Zika<br />
thus far. This continues to be<br />
a top priority for the Government,<br />
but the overall perception<br />
of the spread of Zika in<br />
overseas market is that the<br />
<strong>Caribbean</strong> equals Zika. So our<br />
challenge is to educate our<br />
key markets, and target new<br />
tourism niches and opportunities<br />
to offset any decrease in<br />
the romance market.<br />
Antigua and Barbuda has<br />
much to offer travelers and<br />
we must continually seek to<br />
discover and create ways to<br />
elevate our island in the mind<br />
of the travelling consumer<br />
and communicate that in such<br />
a way so as to distinguish us<br />
from amongst our <strong>Caribbean</strong><br />
neighbors.<br />
So on behalf of the Ministry<br />
and the Tourism Authority,<br />
I would like to acknowledge<br />
World Tourism Day.<br />
Congratulations to everyone<br />
on the growth and success<br />
that we have achieved thus far.<br />
I know the hard work, dedication<br />
and passion that have<br />
gone in to achieving what we<br />
have so far, but we cannot become<br />
complacent.<br />
We unfortunately cannot<br />
rest on our laurels.<br />
I encourage everyone to<br />
share their ideas of how we<br />
can further strengthen our<br />
tourism industry. The growth<br />
and sustainability of our Tourism<br />
is a nation-wide endeavor.<br />
And as we allow the great individual<br />
and creative ideas to<br />
contend, we will see the collective<br />
growth and advancement<br />
of the country’s Tourism.<br />
As articulated in the words of<br />
our national anthem “Each<br />
endeavoring all Achieving.”<br />
We want everyone to become<br />
engaged and join us in ensuring<br />
a bright and wonderful future<br />
for our Tourism industry<br />
and by extension a bright and<br />
wonderful future for our beloved<br />
Antigua and Barbuda.