The Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda in Spain, Dr. Dario Item, together with the Counselor of the embassy, Daniel Yakovlev, were received at the UNWTO headquarters in Madrid to take advantage of the friendly cooperation that has existed since the Caribbean destination became the The Organization's most recent Member State and eighth in the Caribbean region when it joined in 2021. Since then, Dr. Dario Item has served as his country's Permanent Representative to UNWTO, alongside his role as Ambassador.
Welcoming the delegation, UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili praised the leadership of Prime Minister Gaston Browne and congratulated him on his recent re-election. He also sent his thanks to the Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transport and Investment, Charles Henry Fernández, for his continued support. In 2021, Antigua and Barbuda welcomed around 170,000 international arrivals and industry revenue reached US$490 million. Like many Small Island Developing States (SIDS), tourism is a key economic sector for Antigua and Barbuda and UNWTO is working with the Government to maximize its potential as a pillar of sustainable and inclusive growth.
The official visit to the UNWTO headquarters took place within the framework of the FITUR 2023 tourism fair in Madrid. In conclusion, Dr. Dario Item and his delegation invited the UNWTO Secretary General to visit Antigua and Barbuda, the details of which will be confirmed in due course.