Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) CEO Colin C. James has revealed an ambitious plan to boost tourism in the United States.

The ABTA is undertaking a comprehensive promotional tour, visiting over 30 cities nationwide to engage with travel professionals.

The primary objective of this tour is to provide updates on the latest developments and activities in Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism sector, with the aim of increasing tourist arrivals.

The promotional effort is being led by Dean Fenton, the ABTA Director for the USA.

The United States tourism team is sparing no effort to ignite the enthusiasm of travel agents, with engaging roadshows designed to drive sales to new heights for the upcoming 2023-2024 tourism season in Antigua and Barbuda.

The sales campaign will cover multiple cities, where the team will share fresh and captivating insights about the irresistible charm of Antigua and Barbuda and their award-winning tourism offerings.

Last week, the ABTA USA team, led by Norrell Joseph, the USA Sales and Marketing Manager, conducted informative sessions for travel agents in Boston, Hartford, New York City, and Long Island, New York.

Over the next several months, they will traverse the United States, organizeng 38 training events across various states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Texas.

The objective is to equip travel agents with the knowledge and tools to promote Antigua and Barbuda effectively.

Crucially, the Antigua and Barbuda team is working alongside partners representing key properties, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, and other regional travel suppliers.

This collaborative effort ensures that travel agents leave these events fully informed and well-prepared to highlight the destination’s most compelling features.

To further energize travel agents, the team has successfully enticed some of the country’s top agents, who were already familiar with the destination, to attend the roadshows.

Local hotels and resorts have also seized the opportunity provided by the ABTA to participate in these events. For them, it’s an ideal platform to present new attractions and to build and strengthen relationships with individuals contributing to the growth of the tourism industry in Antigua and Barbuda.

Joseph expressed enthusiasm about the current momentum, saying, “This is an exciting time for us. We sense enthusiasm in the room at every stop, and the information resonates with our audience.

The interactions between our supplier partners and travel agents are truly remarkable. We anticipate our efforts will yield highly positive results for the sector in the upcoming season.”

Dean Fenton, the Director of Tourism USA, commended the team’s unwavering dedication to promoting Antigua and Barbuda as a top travel destination.

He noted, “Our trajectory is on a steep upward curve, and we have set ambitious targets inspired by the commitment of our industry partners.

The properties are making substantial investments to expand and diversify their offerings. Our mission is to ensure they receive the recognition and rewards they deserve.”