07.11.18 News Barbuda is back Andrew Doherty
Barbuda (CA245) has debuted a new tourism campaign at WTM London – its first since Hurricane Irma devastated the island last September, destroying 90% of its structures. Asha Frank, chair of tourism culture, youth and sport affairs at the Barbuda Council, said WTM London was the “ideal” place to extol Barbuda’s virtues.
“Barbuda’s selling point is delivering a low-density, high-end experience. We are a destination where locals and tourists become friends for life.”
Titled “We live it, you’ll love it, visit Barbuda”, the campaign highlights the destination’s ecotourism offerings, such as the Codrington Lagoon – home to the largest frigate bird colony in the western hemisphere. Frank said preparations were under way to ensure Barbuda was ready for the next tourism season, including the reopening of Barbuda Codrington airport and the return of the SVG Air flights from Antigua. Daily ferry services, which depart from St John’s harbour, have resumed too. “It’s a slow-but-sure start. We now have 1,000 locals who have moved back and who are participating in
a council incentive to ensure the island is ready for the next tourism season (from December to April). It’s been so great to see everyone coming back.”
Positive news includes the reopening of the Barbuda Belle Luxury Beach hotel in Codrington Lagoon Park.
“To see the before and after images really shows how much work has been done,” Frank added. Additional properties to open in Barbuda include the six-room Barbuda Cottages, which will welcome guests in December, and the 125-room Barbuda Ocean Club, currently at the consultation phase of a five-year development. However, Frank confirmed there had been no further progress at the Niro-Packer development on the K-Club site. The Hollywood actor and his billionaire business partner James Packer have signed a land lease for 99 years, with a plan to build 40 cottages with private pools on the 859-acre site.
Barbuda Belle luxury apartments have now reopened after Hurricane Irma devastated the island last September
QUESTION
TIME: Travel bosses heard infl uential
businesswoman Susan Hooper interviewed on stage at the
exclusive Leaders’ Lunch on the opening day of WTM London. Hooper sits on the board of the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) as well as the boards of companies including Uber UK, The Rank Group, and Wizz Air.
Frank also said the Barbuda Council expected visitor numbers to pick up in 2019: “Our source markets are very similar to Antigua – Canada, the USA and the UK. I think we will receive roughly 10,000 of the 250,000 visiting Antigua.”
Interactive tourism is on the menu TOURISM PUSH
Mauritius’s 5% growth
April Hutchinson
Mauritius (AS100) is setting its sights on tourism growth of 5% in 2019 off the back of continued interest in the island; hosting of the regional Island Games; a significant boost in airlift; and an expansion in the year-round appeal of the destination.
“We have around 1.4 million visitors now, and are very proud that 40% are repeat guests. A sustainable approach to tourism is key for us,” said Raj Bhujohory, chairman of Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), who said Mauritius had experienced an increase of 2% year-on-year to the end of September.
“There’s potential for growth in Europe – the top markets for the last five years have been France, UK, Germany and Italy,” said Bhujohory. “European visitors are welcome, as they spend more and stay longer.” Alitalia relaunched flights to Mauritius on October 26, following new services from Saudi Arabian Airlines and KLM-Air Mauritius, launched last year.
“We’ve also seen more flights from Germany, which is securing that as a year-round market,” said Bhujohory. The MTPA is also keen to continue promoting tourism initiatives that integrate locals and tourists. “People are starting to explore the other side of the island, away from the beach, and locals are entering into more and more tourism enterprises, such as home-cooking lessons and dining,” he said. Bhujohory also welcomed a “new breed” of hotels that focus on more interaction and environmental initiatives, such as Salt by Lux Resorts and C Resorts by Constance.
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ttgmedia.com/newsletters 07.11.2018
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