I-Antigua neBarbuda ithola izivakashi ezingaphezu kwesigidi ngo-2018

I-Antigua neBarbuda yemukele izivakashi ezingaphezu kwesigidi endaweni okuyiwa kuyo ngo-2018, iphezulu izibalo zika-2017 futhi yahola uNgqongqoshe Wezokuvakasha wase-Antigua naseBarbuda uMhlonishwa uCharles Fernandez ukuthi abize unyaka ka-2018, “Unyaka oqopha umlando we-Antigua ne-Barbuda.”

Lokhu kulandela Inkulumo Yesabelomali kaHulumeni wase-Antigua kanye ne-Barbuda ngoLwesine zingama-17 kuMasingana, lapho uNdunankulu, uMhlonishwa uGaston Browne enza isimemezelo sokufika “okuhlaba umxhwele” kwezokuvakasha.

Indawo ihehe isamba sezivakashi eziyi-1,081,365 ngo-2018. Lokhu ukwanda kwabafikayo kusukela ngo-2017, lapho i-Antigua ne-Barbuda ishaya uphawu lwesivakashi esiyisigidi sokuqala, izivakashi eziyi-1,059,924.

Ukukhula okuhlaba umxhwele kakhulu kubonwe ekufikeni kokuhlala (air), lapho indawo eya kuyo ihehe izivakashi ezingaphezu kuka-20,000 ngaphezulu kokuhlala ngo-2018 kunango-2017. Lokhu kuletha inani eliphelele lezivakashi ezifika nge-VC Bird International Airport ku-268,949. Lokhu kumele kukhuphuke ngo-8.75% kwabafikayo abafikayo ngonyaka wezi-2018.

Indawo okuyiwa kuyo iphinde yathola izivakashi eziningi zokuhamba ngomkhumbi, okufike kwabangu-792,873 ngenkathi abafika ngesikebhe befinyelela ku-19,543.

UNgqongqoshe uFernandez uthe, “Sibe nonyaka onamandla kakhulu wokukhula. Ekuqaleni kuka-2018, amaqembu anikezwe umsebenzi wokuhlanganisa kabusha futhi asebenze ngamasu ukuze ahehe izivakashi eziningi ezihlala endaweni. "

“Amaqembu ethu abenamatheli futhi ukusebenza kwethu kwezokuvakasha ngo-2018 kube kuhle kakhulu. Kangangoba, izibalo zokuhlala zika-2018 azidlulanga nje izibalo zika-2017 kodwa zabafika ngo-2016, 2015, no-2014.”

Indawo okuyiwa kuyo ibe nokukhula kokuhlala kwenyanga nenyanga eningini lonyaka, okugcine kuqinile ngoDisemba 2018, lapho isidingo sendawo sikhuphuka ngo-6% kuleyo nyanga uma kuqhathaniswa noDisemba odlule.

Ukufika sekukonke kokufika konyaka, kubonise ukukhula okuqine kakhulu okuvela emakethe yaseCanada ngokunyuka kwama-66% kwabafikayo. IMakethe yase-US lapho iningi lezivakashi zendawo eyatholwa khona ibone ukukhula okungama-8% ngenkathi i-UK Market, imakethe yomthombo yesibili ngobukhulu bezibambele yona; ukuhlala uyisicaba ikakhulukazi ngenxa yokungaqiniseki kwe-Brexit ecindezele uhambo oluphumayo olusuka e-UK. Imakethe yaseCaribbean nayo iqophe ukwanda.

Isikhulu esiphezulu se-Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority u-Colin C. James uthe: “Sinethemba ngomunye unyaka wokukhula ka-2019, lapho kulindeleke ukuthi indawo okuyiwa kuyo izuze ngokwengeziwe ekuthuthukisweni kwengqalasizinda yethu yezokuvakasha, isitokwe samagumbi amasha kanye nokuthutha ngendiza.”

UJames uphinde waphawula, ukuthi i-Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority izokwethula umkhankaso wokumaketha ehlobo womhlaba wonke ozogxila ekudaleni isidingo sendawo lapho kuyiwa khona phakathi nenkathi engokwesiko yasehlobo, ngokunikezwa kwe-value-added. Lokhu kuzothuthukisa izivakashi ezifika endaweni ngesikhathi lapho amahhotela amaningi enomthamo oweqile.

I-Antigua ne-Barbuda ibone imiphumela ebonakalayo yokukhula kwezokuvakasha nezwe eliqopha ukukhula komnotho we-5.3% ku-2018, okwenza le ndawo ikhula ngokushesha kakhulu kuyo yonke indawo ye-CARICOM.

I-Antigua (ebizwa ngokuthi i-An-tee'ga) ne-Barbuda (Bar-byew'da) isenkabeni yoLwandle lweCaribbean. Uvotele Imiklomelo Yezokuvakasha Yomhlaba 2015, 2016, 2017 kanye no-2018 Indawo Ethandwa Kakhulu YaseCaribbean, ipharadesi elineziqhingi ezimbili linikeza izivakashi izinto ezimbili ezihlukene, amazinga okushisa afanele unyaka wonke, umlando ocebile, isiko elinempilo, ukuvakasha okujabulisayo, izindawo zokungcebeleka eziwine imiklomelo, ukudla okunisela emlonyeni kanye namabhishi aphinki nanesihlabathi esimhlophe amangalisayo angu-365 - eyodwa zonke izinsuku zonyaka. Isiqhingi esikhulu kunazo zonke eziqhingini zase-Leeward, i-Antigua iqukethe amamayela-skwele angu-108 anomlando ocebile kanye nesimo sezulu esimangalisayo esihlinzeka ngamathuba ahlukahlukene okubona indawo. Nelson's Dockyard, okuwukuphela kwesibonelo esisele senqaba yaseGeorgia esohlwini lwe-UNESCO World Heritage site, mhlawumbe iyindawo edume kakhulu. Ikhalenda lemicimbi yezokuvakasha lase-Antigua lihlanganisa Iviki Lokuhamba Ngesikebhe lase-Antigua elihlonishwayo, i-Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, kanye ne-Antigua Carnival yaminyaka yonke; eyaziwa ngokuthi uMkhosi Wasehlobo Omkhulu Kakhulu wase-Caribbean. I-Barbuda, isiqhingi esincane sikadadewabo ka-Antigua, iyindawo yokugcina osaziwayo abacashe kuyo. Isiqhingi siqhele ngamamayela angu-27 enyakatho-mpumalanga ye-Antigua futhi siqhele ngendiza eyimizuzu engu-15 nje. I-Barbuda yaziwa ngokungathinteki kwayo okungamakhilomitha angu-17 ogwini lwesihlabathi esipinki futhi njengekhaya le-Frigate Bird Sanctuary enkulu kunazo zonke eNtshonalanga Nenkabazwe. Thola ulwazi nge-Antigua & Barbuda iwebhusayithi noma uqhubeke Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.