By: Staff Writer
May 15, 2026
Tourism in Antigua and Barbuda is booming with record numbers this past January
Colin C. James, chief executive officer of the Antigua Tourism Authority, said at this week’s, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace, 2026 being held in Antigua that: “We are having a phenomenal year. So far, we out of the starting blocks very strong for the Q1 of 2026, our arrival figures still are up 7% with 110,832 visitors arrived… The growth in the US market has been up 14 percent over last year, and we have seen a significant boost from our European arrivals.
“Let me break it down a little bit closer. In January, 2025 we had 34,000 last this January, 36,052 up 5 percent that is the highest recorded number of visitors in any January at any time in the history of Antigua and Barbados.”
Antigua is a premier Caribbean destination renowned for its 365 beaches, “one for every day of the year,” and a vibrant sailing culture. Tourism is the primary industry, driving over 70 percent of the economy. Visitor arrivals are breaking records in 2026, with a focus on luxury travel, marine adventures, and a growing culinary scene, including new curated “Culinary Crawls.”
James also said: “In February again, we completed 36,1 33 visitors, up 6 percent on last February again, the highest ever number of visitors ever coming to our shows in February. And we did a three peat in March. We were up 8 percent with 38,097 visitors. And that is the highest number of visitors who have ever come to our nation in any month, in any year, ever.
He continued: “Traditionally, our US market was the largest source market, with about 53 percent of arrivals. But we have seen this year so far a slight shift, with the European market taking a larger slice of the cake. Canada coming in third place with 12 percent and the Caribbean with 5 percent.
“And then we have seen a spattering of arrivals from other places but one of the things we have noticed as well, and that has been reflected throughout the region, is we are seeing significant growth coming from the Latin American market. So it’s something that before the numbers were negligible, but now we are seeing that that Latin America is indeed becoming an important market for not just for the region, but for Antigua and Barbuda as well.
Cruise tourism, on the other hand, was up 22 percent with cruise arrivals forecasted to grow again this year. “A lot of movement in the home porting in as Antigua and Barbuda is now is a major home port in call in the Eastern Caribbean, with Carnival UK home porting here in this winter season,” said James.
He added: “The home porting figures are going to double with their sistership Iona also home porting here in Antigua and Barbuda for the upcoming winter season.
“So strong growth. Ladies and gentlemen, 483 calls, as opposed to 388 a few years ago. So we are growing the industry. We are doing it in a sustainable way to ensure that we can manage the numbers and we don’t have the over tourism issue that a lot of countries will be experiencing, and that is some of the trends that we’re seeing.”