OFFICIALS SEEK TO TAP INTO LATIN AMERICAN MARKET FOR HOME-PORTING BOOST

Discussions are underway for Antigua and Barbuda to leverage its growing prominence as a home-porting destination to tap into the Latin American market.

Those talks are being held among BlueSea Limited, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and Global Ports Holding.

It follows a deal reached between BlueSea and LIAT 2020 to launch charter flights between Antigua and Barbuda and Colombia, starting in September this year.

Home-porting opportunities are being explored to give more people from South America an opportunity to fly into Antigua and begin their cruises here, especially since some do not have visas which would allow them to begin their cruises at United States ports.

All three entities are expected to meet with cruise ship operators interested in this new level of connectivity.