Antigua – Barbuda raises wellness profile at international wellness tourism conference

ST JOHN’S, Antigua –The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) is continuing to bring international attention to Antigua and Barbuda as an emerging destination in the wellness space.

The twin-island’s 365 beaches, lush landscape and environmental initiatives were just some of the highlights that the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority’s Wellness Pillar Lead and Director of Tourism Canada (Ag) Tameka Wharton addressed, at the recently concluded 2022 International Wellness Tourism Conference hosted by the Wellness Tourism Association in the Dominican Republic.

The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA), of which Antigua and Barbuda is a member, is a global network for wellness tourism stakeholders including DMOs, suppliers, travel advisors, retreat leaders, media, and others in the growing global wellness tourism industry.

An invited presenter at the conference, Wharton outlined several of Antigua and Barbuda’s wellness tourism initiatives implemented by the ABTA. The initiatives are a result of dialogue with the WTA and wellness providers in the country. They include: an audit of the destination’s wellness offerings, providing increased access to training sessions for wellness providers, and the enhancing of promotional material to promote Antigua and Barbuda’s growing directory of businesses catering to travellers seeking out wellness experiences.

Anne Dimon, president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the WTA points out that “the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority is one of the first Caribbean DMOs to launch a strategic and well thought-out wellness initiative, and we are delighted to be working with them to help further the cause.”

ABTA’s Wellness Pillar Lead Tameka Wharton, said, “Antigua and Barbuda has diverse wellness offerings and we are excited to invite persons to reconnect with themselves and find balance in our twin island destination.

“We continue to charter the course of the destination’s strategic positioning within this growing market segment and look forward to collaborating further with the Wellness Tourism Association, and our wellness tourism providers to increase our presence in the wellness sphere and make Antigua and Barbuda a sought-after wellness tourism destination.”

Earlier in November, Wharton also took to the Insight Stage at World Travel Market as a panelist to speak on Antigua and Barbuda’s wellness brand for the topic: ‘The Future of Destination Management & How Wellness Aligns.’

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority used both events to showcase a new destination video geared towards wellness travellers. Antigua and Barbuda: Your Wellness Destination , features Antigua and Barbuda’s sensory natural attributes, organic produce and farm-to-table restaurants, sound healing, yoga and wellness retreats, accommodation, and other wellness experiences.