Caribarena Antigua The Best Caribbean News Portal

**Jumbee Picknee** » 2012-05-11 00:10

...we know that, 'child's play', psychologically has two meaning on the playground, since, even then, bulling has been mastered by some child with an old spirit who wants to be don-Juan...so, fock the numbers, get real and true. One of the problem with our stay over visitors is very clear, the PRICE OF AN AIRLINE TICKET and yes, to a degree we have no control over airline pricing, but, STOP and think, for a moment, "RAS sTAnford", take a page from his memoir, and grow our own airline. AGAIN, speaking number's, and fock the numbers, reduce the price of airfare in combination with crime reduction, better infrastructure, amenities from the arts, culture, fine dining with a local quisine, WE GOT THE PRODUCT, WE HAD THE KNOW HOW, WE HAVE THE RAW MATERIAL, stop cackling and start working. DE GOLDEN EGG, DUN LAY (antigua, barbuda & redonda)

**tenman** » 2012-05-11 00:04

Quote:

Tourism said: As a matter of fact, Antigua and Barbuda still has the highest number of stay over visitor per person in the region

Anguilla population 15,094, 61998 stay over for 2010 (4 for every 1 resident vs Antigua around 3:1) Another example of your statement being untrue. Do you need more?

..

**tenman** » 2012-05-10 23:58

Tourism, Aruba's population is 107,488, they had 825451 stay over visitors in 2010 vs Antiguas 229943 in 2010. I need not tell you this makes your statement Quote:

Antigua and Barbuda still has the highest number of stay over visitor per person in the region

false

..

**tenman** » 2012-05-10 22:03

Quote:

Tourism:As a matter of fact, Antigua and Barbuda still has the highest number of stay over visitor per person in the region. The sky has not fallen. I would like to see improvement which we are seeing signs of so far this year

The only released numbers related to stay over visitors for the first two months of 2012, show a -3% (January) and a -11% (Feb) % decrease in comparison to 2008. The months with the highest arrivals (from our major markets) are the winter months (Jan - April, Dec). The numbers for last year are lower than the numbers for 2004. We are now in the slow season. You must really be a fun person to be around? Must tell you an attitude of heading over a cliff, and increasing the speed though others are shouting warnings, is not a sign of someone being logical. I am sure we will be able to continue this debate when the late numbers are released. I will take no joy in telling you, I and the already released numbers showing a trend, told you so.

..

**tourism** » 2012-05-10 21:18

Tenman, look at the data for 2006 to 2010. You will see for all those countries there were periods of decline. When to take the average and use a common denominator you will find that Antigua and Barbuda has not done worse than any of them. As a matter of fact, Antigua and Barbuda still has the highest number of stay over visitor per person in the region. The sky has not fallen. I would like to see improvement which we are seeing signs of so far this year.

**tenman** » 2012-05-10 20:43

Tourism in an earlier post to this story, I looked at both Barbados and Saint Lucia and pointed out that their current numbers are not below their 2004 numbers. Am I understanding you to say its ok for our tourism industry not to grow? Again is it acceptable for our numbers since 2008 to be below the 2004 numbers? If you say yes I can only pray that you are not a decision maker in our tourism industry. Our GDP (which is dependent on tourism) has declined for the past 3 years and this year may see another decline. Can you point me to any island in the region in this predicament? This is not so for any of the island you listed. This clearly is not the regional norm.

tourism beleive it or not, I am interested in getting things turned around. Currently I have family and friends who are unemployed. I have friends who though working are suffering because a spouse is not. If we cannot admit there is a problem, how will it get fixed?

..

**tourism** » 2012-05-10 20:22

Almost all destinations have experienced growth and decline. There points when we are all growing together and points when we are all declining together, yet there are other points when we are growing while some others are declining and vise versa. Check the figures from 2006 to 2010 and you will see exactly what I am talking about. Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica, St. Lucia, Puerto Rico etc, All showed periods of decline between 2006 and 2010.

**THE GODFATHER** » 2012-05-10 20:10

Tourism, good work, just came in and reviewed your figures, I guess the difference of 35,610 stay-over will give Tenman a serious headache, an increase of 16.677%. Tenman persist in painting the bleakest of pictures, whats happening today is reality all over, so acknlowldge Tourism input!

**tenman** » 2012-05-10 19:57

tourism I did look at the numbers including 2004, what I noticed was an increase after sept 11, 2001. Here are the numbers:
206871 (2000) 193176 (2001) 198085 (2002) 224032 (2003) 245797 (2004). Am I wrong in seeing an upward rather than a downward trend in the numbers? Do you realize that if we compare the 2004 number(stay over visitors) to the 2011 numbers, that the 2011 numbers are less? If I were to compare the 2003 or 2004 numbers to those before 2001, they are higher reflecting growth. Does it not worry you that the 2011 numbers show we are going backwards? I happen to beleive it can be fixed if we stop making excuses, stop being in denial, and try to learn from others who are doing well

Note: 2004 numbers obtained from:
www.onecaribbean.org/content/files/2004Antiguastats.pdf

....

**tourism** » 2012-05-10 19:26

Tenman, here are some other numbers to ponder. 2000 to 2004 yielded an average of 213,524 stay over visitors while 2006 to 2010 average was 249, 134.

**tenman** » 2012-05-10 18:56

tourism thanks for having me re look at the numbers, and find my mistake. The total for jan and feb 2008 combined was 53733. The total for the same periods in 2012 was 49797. This makes the difference -3936. This then expressed as a percentage of the 2008 numbers is 7.3%. Will try to be more careful in the future

..

**Jumbee Picknee** » 2012-05-10 18:38

There is no doubt in my thoughts, that, I and many others can and will gain more knowledge from sitting and listening to kindergartners at recess, than our cackling hens, called politicians as they argue over who layed the golden egg and how much stress and force it took to push it out...The golden egg - Antigua-Barbuda -Redonda has already been layed, but we cannot see its glory for all the mud/slime/grime that has encased it.

**tourism** » 2012-05-10 18:28

Tenman I admire your spirit in researching. However, you either do not know how to interpret what you read or you are just too hasty to paint a bleak picture of the UPP administration. A classic example is your post to Cool Ruler in which you are indicating that there was a 14% decline in the first two months 2012 compared to the same period in 2008. I suggest that you review your data.

**Econman** » 2012-05-10 16:00

You need to go and experience the world see whatis actually happening around the world, if you don't think these are factors for Antigua then you are crazy man! The Uk is broke, USA is broke, Italy is broke, France broke , we need to look at everyone of us and say how can we make it better , so these are the best figures since Maginley took over so surely things are improving !!! We as people need to work harder, more flexible and support our country , we should fight election when they happen but we should sabotage things by destructive comments for all of the term!! I'm not happy with everything but I want what is best and that is too be united and constructive as Antiguan people

**tenman** » 2012-05-10 15:26

Its always said its easy to state the problem, but how about solutions. Funny thing is, suggesting a solution will garner the accusation of armchair expert. We need to get serious about tourism data. It must be gathered more quickly. If you check the CTO website, the data for march is not listed. However Barbados & Aruba already have figures up. Saint Lucia already knows its first quarter figures. The ministry of tourism should not have to wait until after the fact to get numbers from the hotel. Data collected at the airport should quickly be collated. The forms allow the visitors to say where they are staying. There is really no need to wait for hotels to state past occupancy %. The government should have projected monthly occupancy from the hotels. These figures are needed to properly market the island. We should know before hand which markets are not performing and whether more money should be spent there in pushing the product. Currently it looks as if our marketing efforts are not proactive.
..

**tenman** » 2012-05-10 15:09

Cool Ruler the governments figures (see www.onecaribbean.org/content/files/April27MonthlyTouristArrivals2012.pdf ) indicate that for the first quarter of the year, we have seen something like a 14% decline in comparison with 2008.

Where Mr. Forester is concerned, stop misinterpreting what he stated. What Forester it states said was: Quote:

Antigua has recorded its best hotel occupancy figures for April since 2008.

Did you miss this part:
Quote:

“there are signs of recovery, with several hotels showing good occupancy, whilst others are struggling to find their clientele."

Ruler do we have the same number of rooms as we did in 2008? Hotels have closed since then. The key number which should have been stated was number of stay over visitors. Telling me that in a market with less rooms that occupancy is up, is meaningless. In addition, of major importance, what is the revenue like? Makes no sense quoting high numbers if a high number of the "visitors" are travel agents or room charges have been highly discounted.
..

**Sapping Hand** » 2012-05-10 15:06

I guess the world recession doesn't affect the other Caribbean Islands which posted growth? You eating too much cheese? Brain going? Dunce x Dunce = Dunce squared!

**New dawn** » 2012-05-10 13:25

Silly article silly statement waste of everyone's time involved move on please

**Cool Ruler** » 2012-05-10 12:46

If I had to believe anyone on this matter I would certainly believe Mr. Forrester over Dean misfit Jonas and the rest of the detractors who come on hear daily. When he said “Antigua has recorded its best hotel occupancy figures for April since 2008, with an average of 63.8 percent”

Mr. Forrester is non-partisan and credible and am sure can back up what he has said with raw data unlike people like Jonas who have no credibility, just ask Daniel. Anyway what the CEO reveal is certainly good news.

**Liberta boy** » 2012-05-10 12:25

So all the ALP can do is to send the PR officer to debate tourism strategy is causing an argument not winning a debate , people who win debates have solutions and answer the people who start argument have none!!!

**Liberta boy** » 2012-05-10 11:36

Quote from Neil forester figures are encouraging and proves we are on the right path but again always attack with no solutions I agree with local guy !

**Econman** » 2012-05-10 11:26

Once again ALP slagging off the government without any ideas, no solutions, so I congratulate Mr Jonas on his attack as a really positive thing for Antigua it proves what a wonderful opposition we have full of fresh ideas!! Get real Jonas the world is in a global recession, oil has gone up six fold since 2008 , uk taxes have gone up 140% in 2 years!!so are you going to blame Maginley for this?

**Local guy** » 2012-05-10 11:21

Ironic really coming from a party who teethed $120 million dollars and who want to run again for power!! It's time for us to get real number are up let's be pleased and positive ! Once again a ALP moron slagging off without any suggestion put up or shut up

**Concerned** » 2012-05-10 09:56

I hear that there will be 30% less Cruise Ships coming to Antigua for the 2012/13 season if so WHY? I would like an answer from the Minister. Caribirena dont let this problem fall through the cracks.

**Family Guy** » 2012-05-10 09:27

We wait your "cheese in your mouth" response! He say he don't want to run again - that speaks volumes!

**Skyewill** » 2012-05-10 07:49

more than F, negative F, F minus. F square, F to the fourth power, F uped,
F ing, 543210F Why do anyone come into politics, if not to help people, if not to help improve the way THEIR people live, make life eaiser for the poorer feller. To get such great oppertunity to give back. I believe if a man have good intentions and he finds himself lacking in his delivery of good to society, in the best interest of his community, he should resign out of caring concern and do something more compatable to their apptitude. If he really care he will seek and recruit is own replacement.

**tenman** » 2012-05-10 07:22

The CTO numbers show show things are worst than Jonas suggests. Looking at the tourism numbers for the past years and what stood out was that the 2004 stay over numbers (245797) vs the 2011(241331) ones show a decrease of almost 2%. I decided to look at other similar islands and could not see a decrease. Jamaica led the pack with a almost 38% increase. Anguila had alost a 22% increase. Barbados saw a meager almost 3% growth. Note: Had to use the 2010 numbers for Saint Lucia since I could not find full 2011 numbers. Saint Lucia is reporting a 30% increase in stay over visitors from the UK for the first quarter of 2012, 15% more than the figures for this period 2011 (see www.caribbean360.com/travel/573306.html#axzz1uPL1CGg8).

www.freeimagehosting.net/newuploads/xs7fx.jpg
..

Title	Answers
HAS THE RESULTS CAME OUT AS YET?	0
How will be taking Lovell's place.. Given he can not do his Job. We need to drop interest rates on outstanding matters. Who can do Lovell's Job right this time?	3
Is FBO 2000 on Antigua still up for sale?	1
Where do local eat	3
when u have to accept road signs from another country why u spend so much money on immigration as no one wants to settle in antigua	0

Title	Answers	Hits
Was there a police report filed by Royal Caribbean Vision of the seas for the man, wife and 11 yr old child removed from the ship on December 20th, 2012 ? He allegedly attacked a man with a service dog on the ship and was set on the dock that day with hi	0	38000
PWD in shambles, what is the purpose of their position? I'm tired of these people in the dept who jsut come eac day to make you feel uncomfortable because of their miserable lives. someone needs to look into this.	0	14730
What is the world's largest airline?	2	5528
What is the amount ZDK owes for electricity ?	1	3872
any audio or video of Minister Farrakhan speech at the Multi-purpose Centre?	1	3774

27 Comments In This Article

Add comment

Follow us on Facebook

Popular Questions

Ask Your Question

Spotlight on Entertainment

Latest Tourism News

Most Read This Month in Tourism

Search Directory

Directory Listings

App

CARIBARENA