Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Charles Fernandez, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transport and Investment, led a high-profile delegation to the show in late September, where he provided a comprehensive overview of the country’s yachting sector.
Attendees included Alan Hosam, Vice Chairman of the Board of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA), Cherrie Osborne, ABTA Director of Tourism for the UK and Europe and Devin Joseph, Business Development Officer for Yachting. Industry partners included Robert Reis and his team from Falmouth Marina, Shirley Falcone and her team from Antigua Yacht Club Marina, James Benson from BWA Yachting, Jeff Hadeed from the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) and Reeva Armstrong from Revolve Marketing and Olympian Tiger Tyson from the Antigua Charter Yacht Show, who helped promote Antigua and Barbuda’s position as a top yachting destination.
With 117 luxury yachts on display, the delegation ensured that each had a clear understanding of what Antigua and Barbuda has to offer. Numerous meetings with leading charter management companies such as Camper & Nicholson, Burgess, Edmiston, Y.CO and International Yacht Collection (IYC) highlighted Antigua and Barbuda’s appeal as the Caribbean’s yachting hub, emphasising the twin islands’ exceptional sailing conditions, safe environment, berthing services and facilities and the availability of yachting amenities including provisioning services, crew training facilities, local varnishers, carpentry specialists and rigging services – the key components that keep yachts returning each year.
Captains and brokers provided valuable feedback on areas for improvement, and Minister Fernandez’s commitment to address their concerns was met with a positive response, increasing confidence in the government’s dedication to the shipping sector.
Minister Fernandez noted that “the success of the event is already being felt, with over 50 yachts confirmed to participate in the upcoming Antigua Charter Yacht Show in December.”
"The brokers participating in the Monaco show have already filled the berths in English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour for the upcoming sailing season. It is shaping up to be a very busy season and Antigua and Barbuda is fully prepared to welcome our visitors," he said.
The highlight of the show was the Antigua and Barbuda Pink Party, a lively evening where English Harbour rum, carnival, calypso and soca music fused with a live trumpet bringing the spirit of Antigua and Barbuda to Monaco. Antigua VIP kept the crowd dancing well into the night, while carnival dancers and the Pink Sands cocktail evoked the energy to expect when visiting Monaco. The invitation was extended to experience Antigua and Barbuda first-hand, ensuring that the country and its marinas remain a top priority for yachting enthusiasts from around the world.
Source: Visit Antigua and Barbuda.