Staycation Expo Promotes Home Tourism

Details

Tourism News

Monday, 21 May 2012 02:36

By Alex Holder

Antigua St John's - Antigua’s fourth annual Staycation Expo opened on Saturday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium with over two dozen showcases and loads of additional features designed to provide a different experience with the local tourism product.

The opening day offered wine tasting, prize giveaways, food tasting, and bar demonstrations, along with discounts and special offers from internationally renowned brands and more.

The Staycation concept is being promoted as an economic strategy to self-sustain an integrated national development, said director of tourism Cortwright Marshall. He believes that Staycation helps to retain foreign expenditure that would usually be on vacation days abroad and reduces leakages in the national economy.

The initiative is also part of an overall tourism strategy to promote the destination by and through the lenses of those who experience the product firsthand.

Staycation’s Committee Chairman, Vashti Ramsey, said the 2012 event has had a notable number of new registrants that have undoubtedly widened the scope of the expo compiled into a packed two days.

Tourism Minister John Maginley was absent from Saturday’s opening due to commitments at a conference in Mexico.



The concept of Staycation was developed during the peak period of the global financial crisis as a means to revive the tourism industry, and is now considered an integral part of the global tourism product.

“It (staycation) allows for the creation of packages at hotels and other tourism-related businesses for locals to experience and enjoy; and at the same time to provide management with the opportunity to have dozens of local customers assisting in marketing their establishment without ensuring and additional costs,” said Marshall.

Millions in Chinese Aid for Agriculture Antigua St. John's - Agricultural equipment, greenhouses, soil testing technology, and training and implementation assistance for Antigua & Barbu... read more

He added that staycation must be accepted as an economic policy to boost economic recovery and revitalization of local businesses.

“Staycation is a way to rediscover Antigua and Barbuda; a way for locals to taste, see, feel and enjoy more of the country’s tourism services and product offerings," he said.

Local vendors were also available with the customary local cuisines, as was a kiddy’s section complete with face-painting activities, popcorn, cool island ice treats and a bounce castle.

• < Prev
• Next >