ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – DESPITE concerns over potential travel challenges facing the tourism-dependent Caribbean in the months ahead, Antigua and Barbuda has recorded strong growth in visitor arrivals for the first quarter of 2026.
Speaking at the recently concluded 44th Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace, tourism officials revealed that the destination recorded a near seven percent increase in stay-over arrivals compared to the same period last year.
The figures were presented during the destination’s press conference, where recently re-elected Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment Charles H. Fernández and Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) Chief Executive Officer Colin C. James highlighted the country’s continued tourism performance.
According to the data, Antigua and Barbuda recorded 110,832 stay-over arrivals during the first quarter of 2026, compared to 103,843 during the same period in 2025 — representing a 6.7 percent year-over-year increase.
Officials said the destination recorded consistent growth across all three months of the quarter. January arrivals increased by five percent to 36,052 visitors, February climbed six percent to 36,133, while March posted the strongest performance with an eight percent increase, reaching 38,097 visitors.
The United Kingdom recorded the strongest growth among the destination’s major source markets during the first quarter, with arrivals increasing by 14 percent compared to the same period last year.
The United States remained Antigua and Barbuda’s largest source market, accounting for 46 percent of stay-over arrivals, followed by Europe at 34 percent, Canada at 12 percent, the Caribbean at five percent, Latin America at one percent, and other markets at two percent.
Tourism officials also noted that the destination is actively pursuing market diversification in Latin America and Africa as part of efforts to capitalize on growing demand for authentic and immersive travel experiences.
The strong stay-over performance is also being reflected in the cruise sector. Antigua and Barbuda is forecasting a 21.9 percent increase in cruise arrivals for 2026, with projected passenger numbers expected to reach 894,469 — up from 733,526 in 2019.
Cruise ship calls are also projected to increase from 388 to 483 over the same period, driven partly by increased home-porting activity.
Supporting that growth is the new US$30 million cruise terminal, which officially opened on January 24, 2026, under the broader Upland Development Project aimed at modernizing the visitor arrival experience and expanding cruise capacity.
Meanwhile, the destination is also expecting increased airlift as new routes continue to improve regional and international connectivity.
Sunrise Airways launched twice-weekly service between Antigua and the Dominican Republic on May 1, while LIAT Air began twice-weekly flights to Guadeloupe on May 8. Air Peace is also scheduled to launch a twice-monthly Antigua-to-Lagos service via Barbados on May 25.
On the infrastructure side, rehabilitation and expansion work is currently underway at the V.C. Bird International Airport runway, while the newly opened Burton-Nibbs International Airport in Barbuda has been designed to support the island’s growing eco-luxury tourism market.
Investment in Antigua and Barbuda’s accommodation sector also continues to expand.
Moon Gate Hotel & Spa is scheduled to open in 2026 with 71 suites across nine buildings and seven two-bedroom villas. In Barbuda, the Nobu Beach Inn is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in late 2026.
Further ahead, the Nikki Beach Resort and Spa — featuring 84 hotel rooms and 127 luxury residences — is targeting a 2029 opening, while the Rosewood Hotel Barbuda, with 50 resort suites and 35 residences, is expected to launch in 2028. A Marriott Leisure World Hotel featuring 114 rooms and eight overwater villas is also said to be in development.
