Antigua and Barbuda took centre stage at the Caribbean Tourism Organization's (CTO) Caribbean Week in New York, using the event's opening day to trumpet strong visitor arrival figures and growing demand from key international markets.
Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez led the national delegation as tourism officials from across the region convened for the annual gathering, which focuses on charting the future direction of Caribbean tourism.
At the official opening ceremony, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority CEO Colin James addressed delegates on the resilience and collective strength of Caribbean destinations. Fernandez then delivered an update on the country's tourism performance, pointing to growth in both air and sea travel and highlighting rising interest from major source markets — including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Latin America and the wider Caribbean.
The opening day's programme also featured the CTO Leadership Luncheon and a meeting of the organization's Board of Directors, where regional tourism leaders examined pressing industry issues and explored opportunities for deeper collaboration.
Fernandez and James were joined at the event by Senator Angelica O'Donoghue, Government Relations Manager in the Ministry of Tourism; Chief Marketing Officer Charmaine Spencer; U.S. Director of Tourism Dean Fenton; and Senior Digital Marketing Officer Abena Merchant.
Caribbean Week continues through the remainder of the week, with a full schedule of meetings, networking events and discussions aimed at advancing tourism development across the region.
