Colin James, the CEO of ABTA

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As winter approaches, Antigua expects a significant increase in daily flights from Canada, one of its primary source markets.

This boost results from a robust marketing campaign by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority’s (ABTA) Canadian team.

Colin James, the CEO of ABTA, recently participated in various media and promotional events in Toronto, alongside Tameka Wharton, Acting Director of Tourism for Canada, and other ABTA Canadian team members.

These activities aimed to strengthen partnerships and reaffirm Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to the Canadian market while promoting the destination to a broader Canadian audience.

During the event, James also attended special events and met with key representatives from the travel industry.

These industry experts reported substantial business growth for Antigua and Barbuda, which they attributed to the outstanding marketing initiatives of the ABTA team in Canada.

The week’s agenda included significant meetings with key tour operators, such as Air Canada Vacations, Sunwing, TravelBrands, and WestJet.

As a result, flight frequencies are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels, with daily flights from Canada during the peak winter season.

The destination also announced a strategic partnership with Ensemble, a prominent travel consortium with extensive experience and a vast network of travel advisors across Canada and the US.

This partnership aligns seamlessly with Antigua and Barbuda’s high-end properties, offering a new marketing avenue.

CEO James highlighted the impressive visitor arrival statistics for 2023, with 17,780 visitors from Canada recorded by the end of June, representing a remarkable 164% increase compared to 2022 figures and a return to pre-pandemic levels.

Canada’s year-to-date growth exceeded that of any other market by over 100%, underlining the destination’s burgeoning popularity among Canadian travelers.