ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – AS regional stakeholders wrapped up the 44th Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Marketplace in Antigua and Barbuda, officials from St. Kitts and Nevis say the Federation successfully attracted interest from new and emerging markets.
Representatives from the St. Kitts Tourism Authority (SKTA) and the Nevis Tourism Authority (NTA) participated jointly under one umbrella during the two-day event held at the American University of Antigua.
Chief Executive Officer of the SKTA, Kelly Fontenelle, described the meetings as “very productive” for the Federation’s tourism product.
According to Fontenelle, the event created opportunities to strengthen relationships with existing partners while opening doors to new business, particularly in Latin America.
“We've been finding ways to put our foot in this door, and we've met with a few tour operators who are actually looking for partners, for hotels to partner with them — Venezuela, Argentina, and most of the destinations where clients don't need visas to come to St. Kitts,” she explained.
The CHTA Marketplace brought together more than 500 buyers, sellers and media personnel from across the region and internationally, highlighting the importance of the tourism industry while showcasing Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism product.
Fontenelle said the event proved beneficial for the Federation as tourism officials continue to explore new opportunities.
“So it has really been very, very productive for us, very busy, and we are very excited to see what the future holds for us after CHTA,” she said.
Speaking on visitor arrivals for 2025, Fontenelle noted that the Federation experienced a strong start to the year, similar to several other Caribbean destinations.
“I think most of the other islands have been saying the same thing. They had a very good first quarter. It started with a bang, and then Venezuela happened, so that kind of put us back a little bit, but it picked up again in February and March,” she stated.
However, she acknowledged concerns about softer summer travel demand.
“Things are looking soft for the summer because most of the airlines have told us that revenue is up, but the load is down, which means that ticket prices are high. So the airlines are still making money, but fewer people are travelling,” Fontenelle added.
She suggested that Caribbean destinations may need to collectively address the issue of rising airfare costs and their impact on regional travel demand.
Despite the concerns for the summer season, Fontenelle remains optimistic about the latter part of the year, particularly the winter tourism season.
“For the winter, we're pacing well. Most winter travellers book early, and that’s one of the reasons why we always start our campaigns early so they can secure their packages ahead of time. So that looks good for now,” she said.
