Antigua Celebrates Strong Start to 2026 as Caribbean Travel Marketplace Wraps

For the second consecutive year, Antigua and Barbuda served as the host destination for the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) 2026, welcoming travel trade professionals, tour operators, and media from across the globe. 

The event provided an immersive showcase of the destination’s tourism offering, bringing together industry leaders against the backdrop of one of the Caribbean’s most naturally beautiful and culturally energetic nations.

CHTA is the region’s leading private sector tourism organization, representing national hotel and tourism associations and their members across more than 30 Caribbean destinations. 

Speaking at a press conference held during CTM 2026, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment, The Honourable Charles H. Fernández and Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) Chief Executive Officer Colin C. James highlighted a powerful start to the year. 

Antigua and Barbuda recorded 110,832 stay-over arrivals in Q1 2026, compared to 103,843 in the same period in 2025, representing a 6.7% year-over-year increase. 

The United Kingdom led source market growth for the first quarter of 2026, posting a 14% increase over the prior year for the same reporting period. For the quarter, the USA remained the single largest source market at 46% of stayover arrivals, followed by Europe (34%), Canada (12%), the Caribbean (5%), LATAM (1%), and other markets (2%). 

The strong stayover performance is mirrored in the cruise sector, where Antigua and Barbuda is forecasting a 21.9% increase in arrivals for 2026, with projected cruise visitors reaching 894,469, up from 733,526 in 2019. Cruise ship calls are expected to grow from 388 to 483 over this same period, driven in part by increased home-porting activity. 

Supporting this growth, a new USD $30 million cruise terminal opened on January 24, 2026, as part of the broader Upland Development Project, designed to modernize the visitor arrival experience and expand cruise capacity. Full project completion is expected by July 2026.

Investment in the destination’s accommodation offerings continues apace. Moon Gate Hotel & Spa is scheduled to open in 2026, offering 71 suites across nine buildings plus seven two-bedroom villas. On Barbuda, the Nobu Beach Inn is under construction with completion expected in late 2026. 

Looking further ahead, the Nikki Beach Resort and Spa, comprising 84 hotel rooms and 127 luxury residences, is targeting a 2029 launch, while the Rosewood Hotel Barbuda, with 50 resort suites and 35 residences, is slated for 2028. A Marriott Leisure World Hotel with 114 keys and eight overwater villas is also in development.

As global uncertainty continues to shape travel decision-making, Antigua and Barbuda says it is well-positioned to benefit from a growing shift toward safe, stable, and welcoming destinations.