Antigua & Barbuda to host Caribbean Travel Marketplace in 2025

Antigua and Barbuda has been chosen as the location for the 43rd Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). The announcement was made during the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in the Cayman Islands, where Caribbean stakeholders gathered.

The event is scheduled to occur from May 18 to 22, 2025 at the University of Antigua (AUA) campus, which recently hosted the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) organized by the United Nations.This will be the first time for Antigua and Barbuda to host the conference, which brings together global buyers and regional suppliers in the tourism industry.

Colin James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, highlighted the nation’s increased stay-over arrivals this year, which surpassed the record levels of 2019 by 16 percent, establishing the twin-island nation as a significant hub for international travel and investment.

Nicola Madden-Greig, President of CHTA, expressed her enthusiasm for hosting the next edition of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Antigua and Barbuda, emphasizing its significance as the Caribbean’s largest and most prominent marketing event.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation, and Investment, Charles “Max” Fernandez, emphasized the nation’s major infrastructure and hotel developments, as well as its excellent airlift, making it not only a premier regional destination but also easily accessible to travelers.

Craig Marshall, Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association, stressed the significant economic benefits and opportunities that hosting such a prestigious event would bring to the local economy, tourism, and hospitality sectors.

Next year’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace will feature a dynamic program, including Responsible Tourism Day, which will underscore the importance of sustainable tourism practices through community engagement activities. In addition, the Caribbean MICE Exchange will return with a new focus on maximizing direct online bookings using the latest technology and trends in digital marketing and Artificial Intelligence.

Source: dominicanewsonline