Izikhulu Zokuvakasha Zakwa-Antigua ne-Barbuda zibike ukuthi, ngokokuqala ngqá eminyakeni engaphezu kweshumi nanhlanu, i-Antigua ne-Barbuda ibonise izivakashi ezifika ngendiza eziqine kakhulu kusukela ngoJanuwari kuya kuJuni (148,139), ngokunyuka okuphawulekayo ezimakethe zemithombo ebalulekile zale ndawo: US, Canada, UK kanye neCaribbean. Lokhu kumele ukwenyuka kukonke okungu-+7% kusukela ngo-2017. Indawo esondele kakhulu eyafika kulezi zibalo kwakungu-2008 (146,935).
Ikakhulukazi, inyanga kaJuni ibonise ukwanda okuphawulekayo: I-Canada inokwanda okukhulu konyaka nonyaka okungaphezu kuka-170%, ilandelwa yi-US (14.35%), i-Caribbean (8.69%) ne-UK (8.27%). Ngaphezu kwalokho, indawo okuyiwa kuyo ibona ukukhula okujwayelekile okungu-11.57% kwabafika olwandle (502,527 kusukela ngoJanuwari - Meyi), kanye nokukhula okujwayelekile okungu-8.6% kumanani okuhlala.
Lokhu kukhula kulindeleke ukuthi kuqhubeke nokukhuphuka okukhulu kwezindiza ezisuka eNyakatho Melika ekwindla ka-2018, ukuvulwa kwendawo yokungcebeleka yezinkanyezi ezi-5 entsha kanye ne-spa, e-Hodges Bay, ngo-Okthoba 2018 kanye nohlelo oluphelele lokuhamba ngomkhumbi.
“Sijabule ngalo mfutho omuhle wokukhula kwabafikayo, ngokuhamba ngomkhumbi nangendiza. Kukhuthaza ngendlela emangalisayo embonini yezokuvakasha, futhi ngithanda ukuhalalisela i-Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, imboni ezimele, ababambiqhaza nabo bonke ababambisene bethu kwezokuvakasha ngokusisiza ukuthi sifinyelele le miphumela emihle ezinyangeni eziyisi-6 zokuqala zonyaka. Ngeke siphumule, futhi silwela ukuba ngcono. Sizoqhubeka nokutshala izimali kungqalasizinda kanye nezinsiza futhi siqwashisa nge-Antigua neBarbuda, ukuze siqinisekise ukuthi sibona ukukhula okungaguquki kwabafikayo,” kusho uNgqongqoshe Wezokuvakasha Nokutshalwa Kwezimali, uMhlonishwa uCharles 'Max' Fernandez.
“Ingxenye yokuqala ka-2018 ikhombise ukuthuthuka okumangalisayo, ikakhulukazi ezimakethe zethu ezibalulekile zemithombo. Sibheke ngabomvu ukusebenzela ukuheha izivakashi ezintsha nezibuyayo, sithuthukise imikhiqizo yethu yezokuvakasha eziqhingini kanye nokwandisa ukufinyelela esikhumulweni sezindiza esiwine imiklomelo kanye nechweba. Siphinda kabili ukuhamba kwethu ngendiza e-Miami, sethula isevisi entsha eqondile ephuma eNew York nase-Canada, futhi samukela imikhumbi emisha yokuhamba ngesikebhe ohlelweni oseluvele lumatasa. Kuhlanganiswe namasu ethu okumaketha anolaka, siyaqiniseka ukuthi sizoqhubeka nokubona ukukhula okuphawulekayo engxenyeni yesibili yonyaka,” kusho isikhulu esiphezulu se-Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, uColin C. James.
Ngo-2017, iziqhingi zafinyelela ingqopha-mlando kwezokuvakasha ekwamukeleni izivakashi ezingaphezu kwesigidi zomoya nezolwandle. Izibalo zokufika nezindawo zokuhlala zengxenye yokuqala yonyaka ziyizinkomba ezinhle zokuthi i-Antigua neBarbuda ihlelelwe omunye unyaka wamarekhodi kwezokuvakasha.
