Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez says feedback from delegates attending the Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Antigua and Barbuda has been overwhelmingly positive as the country hosts the event for a second consecutive year.

Fernandez toured the trade show floor at the American University of Antigua Conference Centre on Wednesday alongside Junior Tourism Minister Michael Freeland, meeting with tourism stakeholders, buyers and sellers from across the region.

He said initial reports from participants had been encouraging.

“So far the reports and feedback we’ve received from all the stakeholders, buyers and sellers have been very, very positive,” Fernandez said.

The minister said Antigua and Barbuda was proud to once again host one of the Caribbean’s leading tourism business events, which brings together hundreds of industry players at a time when the region is facing global economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

He added that the marketplace provides a key platform for networking, collaboration and business development, while also boosting the country’s international profile.

Regional tourism officials have also praised Antigua and Barbuda for successfully staging the event two years in a row, describing it as one of the Caribbean’s leading tourism hubs.