During the courtesy call at the Office of the Prime Minister, the prime minister expressed his strong desire to strengthen the friendship between the two countries.

He mentioned that Antigua and Barbuda is currently in discussions with the Saudi Royal Family to appoint an Economic Envoy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who will likely be upgraded to the position of Ambassador.

This move will help to further enhance the relations between the two countries.

Prime Minister Browne also highlighted that Antigua and Barbuda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for an air services agreement between both St. John’s and Riyadh.

He expressed his hope that Saudi Arabia will consider Antigua and Barbuda as a possible destination for its new airline, as it is capable of doing long-haul flights.

During the previous year, when Saudi Arabia transported Caribbean leaders to meet with Prince Muhammad bin Salman, Antigua and Barbuda was one of the countries where the Saudi aircraft made a stop.

In addition, the prime minister made a case for Antigua and Barbuda to benefit from establishing a Development Fund in the Caribbean, which will be set up by the Saudi government.

He noted that Saudi Arabia has been successful in its bid to be the venue for the 2030 World Expo, and the Saudi campaign for the Expo in the Caribbean started in Antigua and Barbuda.

During his visit to St. John’s, the Saudi ambassador also held discussions with Foreign Minister E.P Chet Greene, and visited the campus of the University of the West Indies at Five Islands. Saudi Arabia has approved US$80 million to finance the expansion of the university, and work on this project will begin shortly.

Caribbean Journal’s Caribbean Travel Award for Caribbean Tourist Board of the Year has been won by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority due to their outstanding performance in 2023.

The Caribbean Journal’s Caribbean Travel Awards acknowledges the efforts of people and places contributing to the Caribbean’s success, from the best hotels to the top tourism executives and the islands that excel in fields such as food, romance, sustainability, and innovation, as chosen by Caribbean Journal’s editorial team and leading experts on Caribbean travel and tourism.

The winning streak of Antigua and Barbuda continued with the destination being recognized as Wedding Destination of the Year and Culinary Destination of the Year in the awards announced by Caribbean Journal.

Tourism Minister Charles Max Fernandez described the wins as a demonstration of the strong performance of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and the tourism industry teams during the year.

“Brand Antigua and Barbuda has a clear vision that has been developed based on the inputs and feedback of our tourism stakeholders across various sectors. Through partnership and collaboration, we continue to elevate our tourism offerings and experiences showcasing our talents and the uniqueness of Antigua and Barbuda. To be recognized by our peers in the region is an honor, and I am tremendously proud of the work of our teams,” he said.

Meanwhile Editor and Publisher of Caribbean Journal Alexander Britell says Antigua and Barbuda has experienced meteoric growth in tourism over the last few years.

“The twin-island destination’s performance in the 10th annual Caribbean Travel Awards is a testament to that success. From a Caribbean-leading culinary movement to its place as a world-class wedding destination, Antigua and Barbuda and the ABTA are a model for the rest of the region.”

During 2023, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority hosted the inaugural Antigua and Barbuda Restaurant Week in May and laid out the red carpet for couples visiting the destination during Antigua and Barbuda Romance Month in June.

And Colin James, CEO of Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority congratulated his team for their commitment to working diligently to ensure Antigua and Barbuda sets itself apart from other destinations.

“Our main priority is to continue increasing airlift growth, producing unique campaigns and marketing initiatives, and focusing on sustainability. Winning several of the prestigious awards is a great achievement and highlights the endless dedication we devote towards promoting the destination and contributing to the success of our island’s tourism industry,” James stated

The Verandah Antigua and Hammock Cove also won awards. The Verandah Antigua won the Caribbean All-Inclusive Resort of the Year, and Hammock Cove won Small All-Inclusive of the Year.

The discussion between the two leaders primarily focused on priority areas for the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including environment, climate change, and tourism cooperation.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister invited the President to attend the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States, which is scheduled to be held in Antigua and Barbuda in May 2024.

Diplomatic relations between Maldives and Antigua and Barbuda were established on March 25, 2002.

Both leaders concluded the meeting by expressing their enthusiasm to deepen collaboration between the two countries.