Antigua and Barbuda used the opening day of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Caribbean Week in New York to showcase continued growth in visitor arrivals and expanding interest from key international markets.

Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez led the Antigua and Barbuda delegation as tourism officials from across the region gathered for the annual event, which focuses on shaping the future of Caribbean tourism.

During the official opening ceremony, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority CEO Colin James spoke about the resilience and collective strength of Caribbean destinations.

Fernandez provided an update on Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism performance, highlighting growth in both air and sea travel and pointing to increasing interest from major source markets including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Latin America and the wider Caribbean.

The opening day’s agenda also included the CTO Leadership Luncheon and a meeting of the organization’s Board of Directors, where regional tourism leaders discussed issues affecting the industry and opportunities for continued collaboration.

Joining Fernandez and James at the event are 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 throughout the week with meetings, networking events and discussions aimed at advancing tourism development across the region.