Antigua and Barbuda enhances Cruise Tourism with initiatives to tackle traffic and boost homeporting

Antigua and Barbuda is becoming bolder and active towards the establishment of their cruise tourism industry, addressing primary concerns such as traffic congestion and enhancing their capacity in homeporting.

The Ministry of Tourism in the country and Antigua Cruise Port Ltd are working together in concert with the growing tourism industry of the nation, to keep on prospering but at an improved experience for the visitor and the local alike.

Charles Max Fernandez, Tourism Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, said that the Ministry of Tourism is in negotiations with the local taxi drivers’ association to introduce water taxi services that would make travel easier for those who deplane from cruise ships.

This scheme, therefore, is an important step towards deferring the mounting pressures on roadways, a growing malady due to the large number of vehicles and tourists.

The effort of the government in regulating tourist transportation and reducing congestion more particularly around areas like the cruise port will be sought in streamlining transportation by servicing the interests of the taxi association in acquiring permits to use these water taxis.

Fernandez further noted while speaking at the Antigua Cruise Port Connect Conference, held at Sir John E St Luce Conference Centre that due to the frequency of congestion on the road, it has become increasingly difficult for taxis to easily have access to the cruise port. This not only disrupts their own activities but affects the tourist experience.

The Ministry of Tourism had an initial discussion with the University of the West Indies FIC to outline the potential usage of AI as part of an overall solution to the traffic problem.

It is pretty evident in the statement of Minister Fernandez as he assured that sustainable solution schemes will be adopted to handle the increasing tourists and related traffic congestion, and that traffic will be handled in a manner that benefits both visitors and residents.

Even the privately owned Antigua Cruise Port Ltd. is on the move to promote homeporting in the country. The General Manager of the port, Gasper George, revealed that 23 homeporting calls from seven vessels and six cruise lines have been scheduled to visit the country for this cruise season, with overnight calls expected for Arvia of P&O Cruise Lines in St John’s Harbour.

This is an important milestone in the homeporting of Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism industry as it reflects the status of its increasing appeal to a country homeporting destination.

George said that a homeporting operation can remain successful only if it brings together the all-important machinery of unitedness, requiring an interaction between all those stakeholders involved in the cruise tourism sector.

“For this, we have to be on our ‘A’ game; we cannot fight each other; we have to come together as this business means a lot to us,” George stated while speaking at the Connect Conference.

Both initiatives, from water-taxi services to increased homeporting operations online, echo efforts that seek to improve the experience of cruise tourism in the country. Tackling traffic congestion is an activity that dovetails into the overall vision of creating a smooth ride for tourists going to and from the cruise port, especially during peak seasons.

Antigua and Barbuda has made strategic moves to ensure the sustainable growth of the tourism sector ahead of this projected increase in the population of cruise ship travellers.

Through proactive management of these challenges, Antigua and Barbuda is an attractive destination for cruise travellers while maintaining a quality of life for residents.