President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, Sanovnik Destang, says his organization is ‘quite impressed’ with the efforts of the local organisers of Caribbean Tourism Marketplace, 2025, now taking place at the American University of Antigua Conference Room near Jabberwock Beach.
Destang’s comments came as he welcomed Prime Minister Gaston Browne to Caribbean Marketplace on Tuesday.
“If you were here a few days ago with all the rain and the inclement weather, you would have been very concerned about whether we would have been able to put this show on. Yet, despite the rain and unfavourable weather, the team on the ground showed great resilience and incredible creativity and we are very happy to be here for the first time. I can now say safely that Antigua and Barbuda is officially part of the CHTA Marketplace rotation for hosting a future marketplace; we will be back,” he declared.
PM Browne expressed his pleasure in hearing from the CHTA’s president, a commitment to return CHTA Marketplace to Antigua and Barbuda sometime in the future.
“As have indicated, we in the Caribbean rank among the top of countries that have shown great resilience; it is not coincidence as our shared history speaks to resilience. I am very happy that the conference is going very well as we say locally, ‘de conference sell-off’,” he remarked.
PM Browne told President Destang to ‘come as often as you wish’ adding that Antigua and Barbuda stands ready to step in should another country that has been earmarked to host CHTA Marketplace declines to follow through for one reason or the other.
The prime minister was formally introduced to two of the visiting ministers of tourism – from Grenada and Anguilla – before being given a briefing by Minister of Tourism, Charles Fernandez and ABTA CEO, Colin C. James.
PM Browne then toured the marketplace, stopping at many of the booths to personally greet attendees, take photos and to offer welcome on behalf of the country.
