Cruise visitor arrivals to Antigua and Barbuda have increased by 20% for the year to date compared with the same period last year, Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez said.

Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show on Saturday, Nov. 14, Fernandez also reported more than 10,000 cruise visitors that day.

“Our cruise is up 20 percent this year over last year,” he said, specifying that the comparison was for the year to date. He did not provide the cumulative arrival totals or an exact reporting cutoff.

Fernandez said the growth reinforces the need to improve St. John’s and create more opportunities for visitors to spend money with local businesses.

He called for more pop-up attractions and businesses offering locally prepared food, crafts and demonstrations to encourage passengers to spend longer ashore.

Fernandez highlighted pottery-making as one example of an activity that could attract visitors while giving them an opportunity to purchase an authentic Antiguan product.

“They want to see something, and especially if they see it made, they will know this is an Antiguan thing,” he said.

The minister also projected growth in cruise homeporting, with numbers expected to rise from about 24,000 this year to more than 35,000 in 2027.

Homeporting involves passengers beginning or ending their cruise at a destination, rather than visiting only as a port of call.

Fernandez presented the figures as projections and did not provide a breakdown by cruise line or vessel during the discussion.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda cruise arrivals up 20%, Fernandez says.