athleticsantigua

Government of Antigua and Barbuda
Ministry of Tourism, Economic Development,
Investment & Energy
Queen Elizabeth Highway
St. John's, Antigua
Tel#: 1-268-462-0029/462-1005/462-0480/463-0127
Fax#: 1-268-460-6093


Contact: Ms. Samoya Kirby
Communications Officer
Ministry of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy
Queen Elizabeth Highway
Antigua
1-268-464-0076



The latest achievement in the efforts of the destination to continue its relentless campaign to market and promote brand Antigua and Barbuda was realised today.
The front page of the USA Today Feb 11th travel section, which reaches 10 million readers was ablaze with photos and stories about Antigua and Barbuda as a result of a recent press trip last month by USA Today journalist Melanie Reffers. The award-winning journalist who specialises in Travel was invited to the destination and hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority over a three-day period in January. 
The Front page USA Today Travel Section feature captioned Beautiful Barbuda  "Why You should book a trip" will also be published in USA TODAY TRAVEL to reach an additional 2.7 million readers in North America. 
An excellent photo gallery was included in the article with over a dozen photos of the islands, which captured Barbuda's iconic beaches, the caves, historic sites, and the unique fauna along with the unforgettable beauty of the Barbudan people. 
The editors also used photos from Antigua in order to make sure the millions of readers would know Antigua and Barbuda are sister islands. The article also included reference to the celebrity spotlight that is now firmly focused on the destination due to its association with Robert DeNiro, James Packer and Mariah Carey.  It even included a photo of Prime Minister Gaston Browne signing the MOU with Robert DeNiro in pursuit of the Government's vision that meaningful tourism development comes to the sister Island.
Tourism Minister Asot A. Michael, in response to the international exposure that the destination had achieved commented “This is the type of coverage that is repositioning our brand and giving us unprecedented exposure in the largest and most widely distributed newspaper in the USA”.  The profile and image of our destination has been significantly raised as we continue our efforts to build our brand as a world-class tourist destination.

 
 
HONORABLE ASOT MICHAEL
Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy of Antigua and Barbuda
REMARKS interCaribbean Airways INAUGURAL ARRIVAL
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
V.C. BIRD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT


Hon. Robin Yearwood Minister of Public Utilities, Civil Aviation & Transportation,
Chairman of interCaribbean Airways: Mr. Lyndon R. Gardiner
CEO interCaribbean Airways Mr. Trevor Sadler
Chairman of The Tourism Authority, Mr. Rohan Hector
CEO of The Tourism Authority, Mr. Colin James
Chairman of The Airport Authority, Mr. Rolston Potter
CEO of VC Bird Airport, Mr. Stanley E. Smith
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Mrs. Paula Frederick-Hunte
Permanent Secretary of Civil Aviation Mr. Edson Joseph
Tourism Consultant Ms. Shirlene Nibbs
Other interCaribbean Airways and Tourism Officials
Distinguished guests, Esteemed members of the media
Ladies and Gentlemen... good afternoon.
I would like to thank you very much for joining us this afternoon.
 
Welcome to VC Bird International airport to mark this special occasion as we mark and celebrate the birthday of the Father of the nation.
Today is a wonderful day as we welcome our Caribbean brothers and sisters at interCaribbean to our new, wonderful VC Bird International airport with regularly scheduled service from not only Santo Domingo Airport but to Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport in the British Virgin Islands with service between both destinations.  
This new service is incredibly exciting for Antigua and Barbuda and our new VC Bird International airport as it further strengthens our position as an aviation hub in the Caribbean. Antigua is now also in the perfect position to offer visitors and residents one-stop connections to the Bahamas, Panama, Cuba, Jamaica and their home base in the Turks and Caicos Islands by partnering with interCaribbean Airways.
 
Airlift is integral, not only to the success of our tourism industry, but to our investment and growth strategy as a nation. Increasing our annual passenger traffic exponentially year over year is a critical part of this.
So, thank you interCarribean for playing a significant role in this growth. Not only do they bring with them a vast network – they offer more flights within the islands of the Northern Caribbean than any other airline, but they also have Interline agreements with airlines such as British Airways meaning customers connecting between the two airlines are flying on a single ticket purchase. This makes travel not only much smoother and more ideal for the passengers, but it increases the visibility of the flights through the different booking platforms.
Additionally, the flight from Santo Domingo, the second busiest airport in the Dominican Republic that handles more than 3 million passengers annually, opens up traffic from around the world with countries in Latin America and Eastern Europe that Antigua currently does not have direct flight from. This means that same day connections are now possible from mainland and Eastern Europe, and Antigua will also be an ideal connection for traffic further on to the British Virgin Islands. 
 
We also expect these flights to be warmly received by both the people of Antigua and Barbuda as it opens new options for their own travel, as well as the thousands of Caribbean brothers and sisters from the Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands who reside here. New airlift means more options for flights and therefore more opportunities for growth in air traffic between the Dominican Republic and Antigua and Barbuda.
Just a few short months ago we had the absolute honor and pleasure of opening of the new terminal, here, at VC Bird International airport. We are proud to be able to say that we are the newest and most modern airport in the Caribbean – offering a vast portfolio of services, technology and amenities that cannot be found throughout the region. To summarize very briefly for those who may be first time visitors, this includes free Wi-Fi, the latest in check-in technology at the kiosks, expedited customs for both arrival and departure, a full range of dining and shopping options including multiple duty-free stores and air-conditioning. With elevators and escalators we are also completely disabled friendly, offering a smoother and more dignified experience for those that need support in their mobility.
 
This new terminal named for the Father of our Nation Vere Cornwall Bird became a reality for Antigua and Barbuda just 3 months ago in September. The Father of our nation was a true Caribbean integrationist in every sense of the word long before it was politically correct to hold such views. It is therefore fitting as we celebrate his birthday today that we are also celebrating the launch of this new air services to the Dominican Republic, which will serve to unite an English and Spanish speaking nation and further support the ideas of true Caribbean integration.  The Father of the nation would indeed be proud of what we are commemorating today.
Our new major gateway has been an added plus for our nation. We can now provide a product and service that both meets and exceeds the expectations of our hundreds of thousands of visitors each year as well as our very important airline partners. The new airport terminal has proven to be a key leverage in attracting new airlines.
 InterCaribbean Airways is now our third inaugural flight in just 3 short months! By the end of the month we'll have welcomed 5 new airlines, meaning we're averaging better than one inaugural flight a month, which I would suggest means we've been incredibly successful so far this year.  
 
Welcoming interCaribbean Airways to our VC Bird network is an important milestone in us achieving our goals of increasing passenger traffic, while also greatly expanding our network of direct air links.
I extend heartiest congratulations to Mr. Lyndon Gardiner and his team. I welcome them with the confidence that based on their track record of growth and performance what we are celebrating today is the beginning of a long and successful partnership with interCaribbean Airways.    
 Thank you for joining us today and once again a warm Antiguan and Barbudan welcome to our new friends and partners interCaribbean Airways.
-ENDS-
 

 
 
St. John's, Antigua (December 13, 2015) – Plans made by Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Officials to welcome more flights from more airlines and tour operators around the world, upon completion of one of the largest and most modern airports in the Eastern Caribbean have rapidly taken off.
 
The Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Asot Michael, and Tourism Officials, welcomed a fourth airline into the destination, just three months after the opening of the new terminal at the V.C. Bird International Airport.
 
Seaborne Airlines launched its non-stop service between their hub in San Juan's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport and Antigua today with a 34 seat Saab 340 aircraft.  The inaugural flight departed San Juan at 12:45 am, and arrived into Antigua at 2:20 pm.
 
Seaborne Airline Officials, Mr. Hector Montanez - Director of Business Development & Marketing,  Ms. Susana Castro - Director of Safety and Mr. Fernando Vazquez - Director of Airports and Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Officials, Mrs. Paula Frederick-Hunte  - Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Investment, Economic Development & Energy, and Ms. Shirlene Nibbs - Tourism Consultant for the Tourism Ministry were onboard the flight.
 
In his remarks, during the ceremony to welcome the new carrier, Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Asot Michael called Seaborne Airlines, “the largest regional operator in the Caribbean.
 
“The entrance of Seaborne, provides passengers with one additional option for travelling to Antigua and Barbuda, quicker and more conveniently.
 
“As a regional hub, the more modern V.C. Bird International Airport, was extremely appealing and advantageous to Seaborne as they seek to expand their services throughout the wider Caribbean.”
 
Commenting on the inaugurals held to date, the Minister said, “Our mandate is to grow airlift and to enhance our existing strategic positioning.”
 
“JetBlue's launch into Antigua and Barbuda earlier in December, and today's arrival of Seaborne, is especially significant, due to the codeshare agreement signed between the two airlines in October. What this codeshare means to the everyday traveler is that they will be able to travel from JetBlue serviced territories in United States, to Antigua seamlessly, with one ticket, one check-in and reliable baggage transfer.”
 
Seaborne's partnership with JetBlue Airways, as well as Air Europa, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines, means that, the aircraft can provide connections for passengers from thirty-three other destinations in the Americas as well as in Europe, into Antigua and Barbuda.
 
“We are excited to introduce Antigua as the 17th airport served by Seaborne Airlines; the fastest growing airline in the Caribbean,” said Seaborne CEO and President Gary Foss. 
 
“I am confident that our customers throughout the region will benefit from Seaborne's unmatched customer service commitment, low fares and connectivity to our airline partners.”
 
Flights from Antigua to San Juan depart at 3:05 pm and arrive at 4:40 pm.
 
V.C. Bird International Airport's growing portfolio of passenger airlines maintains Antigua and Barbuda's position as a major hub in the Eastern Caribbean.
 
 
About Seaborne Airlines
Seaborne Airlines has been operating in the Caribbean for over 23 years, carrying approximately 3 million customers safely. With over 1,500 monthly departures to 17 airports, Seaborne serves San Juan's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, St. Thomas airport and Seaplane base, St. Croix airport and Seaplane base, Anguilla, Antigua, Tortola, Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, St. Kitts, Nevis, La Romana, Punta Cana, and Santo Domingo. All flights operate with two pilots and two engines under Federal Air Regulation Part 121, the strictest code of the US Federal Air Regulation governing air travel.
 
Schedule effective December 13, 2015
 
Dep. Airport
Arr. Airport
Dep. Time
Arr. Time
Day of Week
San Juan (SJU)
Antigua (ANU)
12:45
14:20
Mon, Thu, Sat, Sun
Antigua (ANU)
San Juan (SJU)
15:05
16:40
Mon, Thu, Sat, Sun
 
About Antigua & Barbuda:
Antigua (pronounced An-tee'ga) and Barbuda (Bar-byew' da) is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. The largest of the Leeward Islands, Antigua & Barbuda comprises 108-square miles. The 365 white and pink sand beaches, one for every day of the year, are just the beginning of the treasures that await visitors.  Antigua's rich history and spectacular topography provide a variety of popular sightseeing opportunities. Nelson's Dockyard, the only remaining example of a Georgian fort commissioned by the British in 1755, is perhaps the most renowned landmark. Betty's Hope, built in 1674, is the site of one of the first full-scale sugar plantations on Antigua, and offers a chance to step back into time by visiting the restored mills. Another unique attraction is Devil's Bridge, located at the eastern tip of the island in Indian Town National Park, where Atlantic breakers have carved out a natural limestone arch. Antigua boasts a varied tourism calendar including events such as the World Class Antigua Sailing Week, Classic Yacht Regatta, Antigua Sports Fishing and also the annual Carnival; known as the Caribbean's Greatest Summer Festival. Island accommodation ranges from luxury resorts and all-inclusive hotels to smaller more intimate boutique guesthouses and cottages. For information about Antigua & Barbuda visit www.visitantiguabarbuda.com
 
For information on V.C. Bird International airport visit www.vcbia.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 source:-http://caribarena.com/ministry-of-tourism-economic-development-investment-energy-queen-elizabeth-highway-st-johns-antigua/
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