U.S. Travelers Top Antigua, Barbuda Market

Good news coming out of twin islands Antigua and Barbuda. With 26,030 tourists arriving in March, the islands are showing a turnaround in stay-over visitor arrivals. These numbers represent a 12 percent increase over the same period last year. The first quarter results show an increase in stay-over arrivals in four of the destination's six major source markets: U.S., Canada, Italy and Germany.

John Maginley, the minister of tourism for Antigua and Barbuda, says, "The destination's focus on increasing airlift from the USA has proven to be right on target. We want to ensure that the cost of travel to the destination remains competitive to allow us to deliver more value."

An increase in seat capacity out of the U.S., American Airlines' daily nonstop service from Miami, up to 10 flights per week from Newark on Continental Airlines and additional service on Delta Air Lines via JFK and Atlanta are all factors contributing to the destination's huge turnaround. 712,000 cruisers were also recorded as arrivals to Antigua and Barbuda during 2010's first quarter, showing a 23 percent increase over 2008 cruise arrivals.