Antigua and Barbuda made a big splash at the TTG Travel Experience in Rimini, Italy!

This premier tourism event was the perfect platform for our dynamic Tourism Authority officials to showcase the islands’ best and build exciting connections in the Italian market.

The powerhouse delegation included Colin C. James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, and Cherrie Osborne, Director of Tourism UK & Europe.

Colin C. James shared his enthusiasm: “The TTG Travel Experience was a fantastic opportunity to unveil our latest developments that will strengthen ties with Italy. With Antigua and Barbuda being one of only three Caribbean destinations present, we definitely made a memorable impact at Italy’s largest business-to-business travel show!”

And there’s more thrilling news! Starting November 5, 2024, Condor Airlines will be resuming its direct weekly flights between Frankfurt and Antigua!

This fantastic route brings incredible convenience to European travelers, including those from Italy, allowing same-day connections from several northern Italian cities, making your dream getaway to our beautiful islands even easier. \

Colin also highlighted the promising travel trends: “The great news for the Italian market is that a significant number of passengers on these flights are connecting directly from Italy!”

The excitement doesn’t stop there. From January to August 2024, Antigua and Barbuda saw a dazzling 16.74% increase in visitor arrivals compared to last year, welcoming a total of 229,275 guests—including a remarkable 2,039 Italian tourists, representing an impressive 18.48% growth!

During the event, the team engaged in more than 33 exhilarating meetings with top-tier Italian travel agencies and tour operators and greeted over 350 enthusiastic visitors at their stand.

This remarkable turnout showcases the growing allure of our islands to Italian travelers!

The delegation was also joined by key stakeholders from Antigua: Stephanie Mack from Caribbean Beach Cottages, representing renowned properties like Cocos Hotel and Hawksbill Resort; Giusy Magni, who brought the luxury of Hermitage Bay Resort; Tiziano Rosignoli from Passion Village Antigua; and Francesca Coletti of Treasure Island Magazine.

They were all in sync with Consul General and Non-Resident Ambassador to Italy, H.E. Jeff Hadeed, offering unwavering support to Team Tourism as they championed our stunning destination!