St. John’s – To promote its tourism sector the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has opened up a dialogue with Emirates and Qatar Airways to add more routes to the Caribbean Nation converting this nation into a central hub for attracting tourists in the region.
During a recent visit to Qatar, Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez met with the management of the two airlines to discuss establishing new flight routes between the Middle East and the Twin Island Nation.
The Minister said that enhanced connectivity between the Middle East and the Twin-Island Nation will convert Antigua and Barbuda into a gateway for the Caribbean and will attract more Middle Eastern travelers to the region.
The tourism minister has been holding talks with various nations to improve the air travel links which can prove beneficial for increasing the influx of tourists to the Caribbean Nation.
The Minister said that recently he had visited Qatar where he had held discussions with Emirates and Qatar airlines and the management has expressed their willingness to operate more flights between the Middle East and Antigua and Barbuda.
The Minister said that this could position Antigua and Barbuda as the gateway to the Caribbean. He said that with improved facilities at the international airport, Antigua will emerge as an entry point for the Middle Eastern travelers to the Caribbean.
The new flight routes to Antigua and Barbuda and the Middle East are expected to be established by 2026 which will enhance the connectivity and accessibility of the Caribbean Nations from the Middle East. The Minister also discusses the possibility of starting direct flights between the Middle East and Antigua and Barbuda which can reduce the travel time and provide a better experience to the tourists.
The Minister said that Antigua and Barbuda is also working closely with South America to enhance the connectivity. He recently attended a Route Conference in Columbia where discussions were held with several South American nations to increase the number of flights between these Nations and Antigua and Barbuda.
The Minister said that the Caribbean Nation had a huge appeal for tourists not just from Asia, and the Middle East but also from the American continent and with various development projects presently being undertaken by the government of Antigua and Barbuda, the Nation was fast emerging as one of the most desirable destinations for travellers.
The Minister said that the government was also trying to attract tourists from North America and Europe while exploring new markets such as the Middle East, South America, and Asia.
During the year 2024, Antigua and Barbuda received a record 1.2 million and surpassed the pre-pandemic benchmark. With more initiatives being taken by the government to promote tourism, the year 2025 is likely to prove one of the best years for the tourism industry of the nation.
The government is also planning to introduce a new airlift service such as Frontier Airlines’ San Juan-Antigua route and is also celebrating Antigua and Barbuda culinary month in May, which is also aimed at attracting more travelers to the nation.
The nation will also play host to the Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace from May 18 to 22, 2025, which will enhance its appeal as the hub for regional tourism.
