Caribbean islands celebrate double-digit growth
Antigua and Barbuda saw double digit growth in visitors every month from March to November last year.
The highest growth months were September with a 36% increase and October with a 27% increase.
More visitors are expected this year due to new tours being introduced by Ramblers Worldwide and Exodus.
Building will begin on a number of new hotels, to be completed by 2018, included one funded by actor Robert De Niro.
This year, Antigua will also celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Antigua Carnival and 35 years of independence.
Jean Marc Flambert, vice-president sales and marketing UK & Europe for the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, said: "As tourism generates about 60% of our islands’ GDP, we are very pleased to see our visitor figures increasing.
"2015 was a big year for Antigua and Barbuda tourism with new hotels, a brand new airport and development of the sports tourism sector. The key contributing factors to this incredible visitor growth can be put down to our close links with the trade and our ‘accessibility’ campaign, which ran in April.
"This focused on encouraging travel during the summer months, as an alternative to European holidays. We already have robust forward bookings for 2016 and look forward to another successful year of growth."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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