Low hotel occupancy rates despite more arrivals.

The Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourist Association (ABHTA) issued a report detailing occupancy and arrival trends for August of this year.

The report revealed that there was a notable 25% increase in visitor arrivals compared to 2019, with 43% of visitors coming from the United States.

However, despite the increase in arrivals, hotel occupancy only averaged at 62.2%, which is a slight decrease from the 64.5% record for August 2019.

The report attributed the low hotel occupancy to the fact that many visitors opted for accommodations in Villas, Guest Houses, or within the Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) market, with over 60% of visitors staying in private homes.

This was largely due to the fact that many visitors were arriving for Carnival and would return home in time for the event.

While the rise in visitor arrivals was driven by the US market, it did not lead to a corresponding increase in average hotel occupancy.

The report emphasized that the increased numbers have not been reflected in hotel occupancy, despite the notable rise in visitor arrivals.