Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez has announced plans to broaden Antigua and Barbuda's tourism base beyond its traditional markets, with new initiatives targeting Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.
According to Antigua News Room, Fernandez outlined the strategy during a "Know Your Candidate" interview ahead of the April 30 general election, detailing plans to deepen airlift capacity, attract high-end visitors from emerging markets and strengthen the country's position as a regional hub.
"I think what we need to do now, and we have started it, is to look at other source markets apart from the US, UK, Canada," Fernandez said, adding that discussions with Emirates Airlines are already underway.
The minister confirmed that the government is working to secure direct flights from Dubai. "We are engaged with Emirates Airlines and we will have three flights in 2027 per week coming out of Dubai," he said, noting that the route could open access to wealthy travellers across the Middle East and beyond.
Fernandez said the strategy also encompasses Africa and Latin America, with the expansion envisioned not only as a tourism initiative but as a broader trade development opportunity. "There are a lot of very, very wealthy people in Africa, the Middle East, and so on, and Antigua has now positioned itself as a high-end destination," he said.
Alongside the push for new passenger routes, Fernandez revealed plans to upgrade cargo infrastructure at the airport, including expanded storage and refrigeration facilities, to support increased trade flows. He framed the initiative as part of a wider vision to transform Antigua and Barbuda into a logistics and transportation hub for the Caribbean, mirroring ongoing developments at the country's port.
"We're now looking to build out a larger cargo area… all in making the airport, just as the port is being done, a hub for the Caribbean," he said.
Fernandez noted that tourism remains the country's primary economic driver, with hotels and a growing number of locally owned short-term rental properties contributing to employment and national income. He said shifting travel patterns since the COVID-19 pandemic have created new opportunities for Antiguans to benefit directly from tourism, particularly through Airbnb-style accommodations.
The minister described the market diversification strategy as essential to sustaining growth and shielding the sector from disruptions tied to any single source market, as Antigua and Barbuda seeks to sharpen its competitive edge in the global tourism industry.
