The destination’s tourism chief Colin James this week revealed that while Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism sector recovered to 88% of 2019 levels last year, business from the UK and the US was already surpassing pre-pandemic levels "driving robust tourism recovery".

Stayover arrivals from the UK and US hit record levels last year, with the US market up 5% and UK by 4% – both ahead of previous record levels.

Moreover, the destination’s hotels are achieve record occupancy levels with average daily rates hitting new highs. "That’s been very, very good for the industry," said James, chief executive of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.

Speaking at a gathering of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation in Curacao, James also revealed plans to increase cruise capacity were coming to fruition with the addition of a fifth cruise ship birth capable of hosting new, larger ship classes.

“We have a first class airport facility and now a first class cruise facility and the ability to homeport means we can take advantage of a lot of these new ships that are coming out," said James.

James stressed the next challenges would be to address regional airlift, with a focus on restoring connectivity with mainland Europe.