Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez has called on Caribbean governments to take stronger action in reducing the high cost of intra-regional air travel, making the appeal before a gathering of regional tourism leaders in New York this week.
According to Antigua News Room, Fernandez participated in a ministerial panel during Caribbean Week in New York, where discussions centred on country branding, competitiveness and tourism growth across the Caribbean.
During the panel, the minister outlined Antigua and Barbuda's approach to sustaining growth in the sector, citing national branding initiatives, infrastructure development, public-private partnerships and efforts to improve the quality of life for residents as key components of the island's strategy.
Fernandez also turned his attention to regional connectivity, arguing that high intra-regional airfares represent a significant barrier that Caribbean governments must address more seriously.
The minister expressed optimism about the future of Caribbean tourism but emphasised that greater collaboration among regional governments is essential to developing the policies and strategies needed to expand the sector.
Caribbean Week in New York brings together tourism ministers, policymakers and industry stakeholders from across the region each year to examine the opportunities and challenges facing Caribbean tourism in the global market.
