Royal publicity boost for Caribbean as Harry’s tour begins
Prince Harry has arrived in Antigua on the first stop of his 15-day royal tour on behalf of the Queen.
The Prince will visit six countries that have the Queen as head of state: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, plus the Commonwealth nation of Guyana.
The Queen had been invited to mark the 50th anniversary of independence for Barbados and Guyana and the 35th anniversary of independence for Antigua and Barbuda, but she asked Harry to take her place.
At 90, the Queen no longer travels long haul.
The St Lucia Tourist Board is urging agents across the UK and Ireland to capitalise on Prince Harry’s royal visit to the island November 24 and 25.
The tourist board has created a royal-themed newsletter for the trade with offers and ideas for royal themed holidays to promote to customers, as well as a dedicated microsite, saintluciauk.org/princeharry with tips from St Lucia Experts.
St Lucia Tourist Board director of marketing UK and Europe Atlyn Forde, said: "Prince Harry’s visit to the Caribbean will no doubt create a great buzz in the UK.
"Prince Harry’s tour will spark heightened interest in visiting the Caribbean and Saint Lucia and we want to do everything we can to support agents in converting this interest into bookings and drive business to Saint Lucia by riding on the back of this excellent media attention to island will receive."
Harry’s first task was to inspect the guard at the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force military parade.
During the tour, he is expected to meet singer Rihanna, who will headline an indepence-celebration concert in Barbados.
He’ll also meet sportsman Sir Viv Richards. It’s been a busy few days for the cricketing legend, as he also had the pleasure of meeting TravelMole managing director Graham McKenzie when they played cricket in Antigua.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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