Antigua and Barbuda recently celebrated the arrival of the 100,000th United States visitor last year for the first time in recorded arrivals in history.
The milestone is a crowning achievement for tourism that included the announcement of multiple new properties, breaking ground on new projects, the extension of Heritage Quay Pier that welcomed a Quantum class vessel Anthem of the Seas, for the first time.
The 100,000th United States visitor was Jean Larsen, an artist and philanthropist, working with Pink Rock, a breast cancer survivor charity.
She and her partner, Greg Murphy were welcomed by Antigua & Barbuda Tourism officials when they arrived on American Airlines from New York at the VC Bird International Airport recently.
All of the passengers on the flight were treated to special music and dancers upon arrival, as well as a gift bag filled with local delicacies and a discount code for island tours to complement their stay.
Tourism officials said despite trends across the region showing a decrease in visitor arrivals and spending, Antigua and Barbuda is defying the odds and showing significant growth in both, including double-digit growth from the United States market.
According to latest statistics, at the end of November 2016, arrivals from the United States were at 18.35 percent year over year increase that is predicted to remain the same or grow once December figures are released.
The United States remains Antigua & Barbuda’s largest source market for arrivals.
Overall, visitor arrivals have also increased by a strong 7.42 percent year over year as of November with figures suggesting the year will end on a substantial increase with over 250,000 visitors overall.
