The month of May was a robust one for the accommodation sector

The accommodation sector enjoyed a robust month in May as fueled by an increase
in arrivals occupancy rose compared with the same month in 2019, the best year
for tourism thus far.
A release from the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourist Association, showed
that occupancy rate for May, 2024, was 67.1 percent. In May 2019, the occupancy
level was 62.2 percent.
The ABHTA noted that the 2022 occupancy looks more favourable at 70.8 percent.
However, it noted that in 2022, there were fewer room nights matched with fewer
rooms sold. A better comparison is to 2019 where we are operating on similar
room nights, according to the release.
Arrivals in May totaled 24,913 compared with 22,191 for 2019. The United States
continues its dominance as the most important source market for tourists to
Antigua and Barbuda. In fact, the percentage of visitors from the US is on the
increase as some markets have declined over the past five years.
In May 2024 the US accounted for 13,994 or 56 percent of the visitors. Back in
May 2019, US accounted for 10,093 visitors of 45 percent of the visitors to the
country.
Over the period, the UK market has declined from 25 percent to 18 percent and the
Canadian market declined from 10 to 4 percent.
Tourism officials attribute the decline in the percentage of visitors from these two
important markets to issues concerning airlifts. These have been less flights into
Antigua and Barbuda from these two markets than there were five years ago.
Both the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and the ABHTA have been hard
at work trying to woo the airlines to increase their flights into Antigua and
Barbuda. They say it is a work in progress.