Antigua anticipates ending cruise season 2023-24 with 500,000 visitors

Antigua and Barbuda: The Antigua Cruise Port is preparing for a significant milestone as officials anticipate ending the cruise season 2023-2024 with 500,000 cruise passengers.

While sharing the development, the operations manager at ACP, Rawle Reynolds expressed his optimism about reaching this mark soon which will make this season one of the busiest on record.

He shared the statistics and said that the country is currently on a countdown to when they are going to reach the 500,000 passenger mark from January 1st, 2024, to the present. As of now, he said that 429,000 passengers have arrived, and he strongly believes that is another 70000 passengers, which the country needs to reach the goal. “We should reach that goal before the end of April,” outlined Reynolds. The Minister noted that the surge of visitors not only boosts the tourism industry but also contributed highly to the local economy as visitors spend on dining, excursions and shopping.

The Antigua Cruise Port officials are focused on ensuring a seamless experience for passengers while coordinating with cruise lines to boost port services and attractions.

Operations Manager Reynolds also said that the successful navigation of this busy cruise season shows the resilience and attractiveness of the island as a premier destination in the Caribbean region.

The frequent visits of luxurious cruises to the island nation has significantly contributed to the booming cruise tourism sector which is attracting massive business for the local vendors.

The island has been consistently welcoming over 10000 passengers within a day, showing the rising demand for the island among international cruise liners and visitors who arrive from the USA, Canada, Miami and other countries of the world.

These visitors disembark to explore the country, giving business to local vendors, taxi drivers and restaurants and exploring the local offerings with pre-booked packages. The island also anticipates a busy summer season, with 27 scheduled calls for April.