Tourism Minister the Hon. Harold Lovell View photo »

A new, dynamic approach to tourism was displayed to the media by the Antigua and Barbuda delegation at the recently concluded 28th Caribbean Tourism Conference in St. Thomas.

The Ministry of Tourism, through its Department of Tourism in New York, co-ordinated the high profile participation of Antigua and Barbuda at the Conference through the hosting of an exclusive dinner for international travel writers and media representatives at the Frenchman's Reef Marriott.

The first event of its kind for Antigua and Barbuda in the 28 year history of this highly respected gathering of top international tourism professionals, travel agents and media, the Hon. Harold Lovell, Minister of Tourism, provided an update on the upcoming plans for Antigua and Barbuda as a premier tourist destination.

Information was provided on new hotel developments, the airport upgrade, the Service Ambassador Programme and other activities being undertaken to improve the visitor experience in the twin island state.

Much interest was generated regarding the potential for Barbuda as an exclusive, secluded getaway in conjunction with Antigua as a destination that provides something for all visitors.

Antigua and Barbuda was also highlighted as a venue for Cricket World Cup with a personal invitation issued to the international media by the Minister of Tourism through the presentation of a gift of a highly unusual, creative and well received chocolate "cricket ball" to the nearly forty media houses attending the event, as a small memento of things to come in 2007.

The media was also presented with a virtual tour of the island and hotel directory on CD, in addition to seeing the recently produced DVD highlighting some of the features of the destination.

Director of Tourism for the US, Mrs. Derede Samuel-Whitlock, stressed the importance of ensuring that Antigua and Barbuda increases its awareness and is on the radar of every travel professional. "Antigua and Barbuda is approaching its attendance of all conferences, tradeshows and meetings as an opportunity to raise the profile and esteem of Antigua and Barbuda as a top travel destination. We have been in the background for too long and are now in a position to build strong relationships with those in the industry that can help to ensure that Antigua and Barbuda achieves its destined success by demonstrating to the world that we mean business."

Antigua and Barbuda was also one of six destinations including, Grenada, Aruba, Puerto Rico, Martinique and Turks and Caicos that made spotlight presentations to travel agents attending the Conference during a dedicated event to facilitate countries updating the industry on developments in their destination. Director of Product Development, Ms. Lorraine Headley, spearheaded the presentation which provided travel agents with exciting details on the country's evolution and also highlighted the new Delta service from Atlanta from December 18 with special introductory fares to assist travel agents generate new business to Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua and Barbuda continues its series of international promotional activities over the next few weeks with a media event for travel writers and agents scheduled for November 3 in New York, a joint sponsorship at the IMG New York Marathon on November 6, and attendance of World Travel Market in London in mid November.