Hotel occupancy remained flat despite the rise in arrivals in August

There was a rise in visitor arrivals during August this year, but the increased
numbers have not been reflected in hotel occupancy.
This has been revealed in the latest report issued by the Antigua and Barbuda
Hotels and Tourist Association (ABHTA) detailing occupancy and arrival trends
for the benefit of its members and the general public.
Using 2019 as its base year, because it was the best year for tourist arrivals before
the pandemic. The report showed that arrivals jumped 25 percent compared with
2019. However, there was an increase in the 2019 figures, occupancy was down
slightly this August compared with August 2022.
“In August, there was a notable rise in visitor arrivals, compared to the numbers
seen in 2019, driven by the US Market. However, as indicated by the data
presented in the following slide titled 'Place of Stay,' this increase in arrivals did
not lead to a corresponding increase in average hotel occupancy,” the report noted.
The reason given was due mainly to people arriving in the country for Carnival and
staying in private homes. “This is largely due to the fact that over 60% of visitors
opted for accommodations in Villas, Guest Houses, or within the VFR (Visiting
Friends and Relatives) market, many of whom would have returned home in time
for the carnival,” it stated.
For August, arrivals totaled 22022 visitors with almost half, 43 percent, coming
from the United States. The next highest category was the visitors from the
Caribbean, which further reinforced the fact that many of the visitors were arriving
for Carnival. Hotel occupancy for the month averaged 62.2 percent; this is down
slightly from the 64.5 percent record last year August.