Antigua’s Tourism Ministry and Statistics Division conduct visitor survey on Carnival Festivities

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Statistics Division has embarked on a Carnival Visitor Survey that will greatly assist the Government in preparing an economic impact assessment of the recently concluded Carnival Celebrations held from July 27 – August 8 in Antigua and Barbuda.

During the period August 3 – August 23, the survey will collect via a random sampling method, information from visitors departing the island at the main port of entry, the V.C. Bird International Airport.

“We want to find out amongst a whole range of other issues, how much our visitors spent on accommodation, meals & drinks, taxi & car rentals, entertainment & recreation, as well as shopping during the Carnival season”, notes, Research Officer in the Ministry of Tourism Patrice Skerritt, who is supervising the survey process.

The survey results while measuring the economic contribution of the festival to the nation are also to be used to prepare a qualitative analysis of the visitor’s experience while in the destination.

“The information gathered”, says Skerritt, “will be of great assistance to the Ministry of Tourism and our stakeholders in the formulating of more efficient techniques for the improvement of the tourism industry in Antigua and Barbuda”.

Funding and data analysis for the program is being provided by The Statistics Division.