After standing out for their high performance during 2023, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) won the award for Caribbean Tourism Council of the Year, granted by the Caribbean Journal. In addition, the islands were recognized as Wedding Destination and Culinary Destination of the Year.

The Caribbean Travel Awards, given by the Caribbean Journal, celebrate the people and places that contribute to improving the positioning of the Caribbean, ensuring it continues to offer the best hotels and attractions; and highlighting the best tourism executives. It also recognizes outstanding achievements in the fields of gastronomy, romance, sustainability, and innovation, as judged by the editorial team of the Caribbean Journal and leading Caribbean travel and tourism experts.

The Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transport and Investment of Antigua and Barbuda, Charles Fernandez, described the awards as “a demonstration of the strong performance of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and the tourism industry teams throughout the year” and added: “Being recognized by our colleagues in the region is an honor, and I am tremendously proud of the work of our teams”.

Meanwhile, Alexander Britell, editor of the Caribbean Journal, indicated: “Antigua and Barbuda has experienced meteoric growth in tourism in recent years. The performance as a destination of the two islands in the 10th edition of the Caribbean Travel Awards is a testament to that success. From its leading Caribbean culinary proposal to its position as a world-class wedding destination, Antigua and Barbuda and the ABTA are a model for the rest of the region”.

During 2023, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority organized the first Antigua and Barbuda Restaurant Week in May and rolled out the red carpet for couples visiting the destination during the Romance Month in June.

“I want to congratulate our entire team for their commitment to ensuring that Antigua and Barbuda stand out from other destinations. Our main priority is to continue increasing the number of flights, produce unique marketing campaigns and initiatives, and focus on sustainability. Winning several of these prestigious awards is a great achievement and highlights the endless dedication we give to promoting the destination and contributing to the success of our islands’ tourism industry,” declared Colin James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.

The Verandah Antigua and Hammock Cove also received awards: the former for Caribbean All-Inclusive Resort, and the latter for Small All-Inclusive Resort of the Year.