ST JOHNS, Antigua – Canadians eagerly awaiting the resumption of flights to Antigua and Barbuda from Canada have been spending their downtime enjoying the destination through virtual vacation experiences.
Earlier this month, Vision Travel specialist Tracy Turberfield took Canadians on a virtual tour of the twin-island paradise from the comfort of their living rooms. Turberfield, understanding that her clients cannot wait for their next trip, created ‘Live-Virtual Vacation Experiences’ so they could feel as if they were in Antigua and Barbuda.
Chief executive officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority Colin C. James commented, “We were excited to be a part of this latest experience, giving Canadians the opportunity to enjoy our real-time views, musical and culinary displays and conversations with our team and tourism partners.”
“We are even more excited to announce that with Air Canada resuming their weekly flight from Toronto to Antigua on November 1, Canadians can now pack their bags. Antigua and Barbuda is stunning from your living room but the only way to truly experience its beauty is in person here in the country”, said James.
The virtual event was hosted by senior sales and marketing manager Tameka Wharton from the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) office based in Toronto, Canada and marketing executive (Cruise) Shamoi Richards, while marketing communications executive Maria Blackman, and digital platform technician Renee Ambrose from ABTA’s Antigua office, joined in from historic Fort James Beach.
Canadians were able to learn from the experts about local ‘hot spots’ and the ‘not-to-be-missed’ sites in the country as the team answered questions from the viewers.
The virtual tour went live from the UNESCO World Heritage site Nelson’s Dockyard, where the National Parks Authority team of heritage resources officer, Desley Gardner and Christopher Water, manager of the heritage department, discussed the history of the English Harbour area.
Mixologist, Kanto George, then created “Paradise”, a delicious cocktail featuring the Antigua Black Pineapple and Antigua’s English Harbour 5-year-old Rum.
The virtual tour also made its way to the Villas of Sunset Lane where viewers met Villa Owner Jacqueline Thomas and had the chance to learn how to make her decadent bread pudding drizzled in a cream liqueur. A ‘pan’-tastic session at sunset with Steels and Keys musicians Bernard de Nully and Lacu Samuel playing Antigua and Barbuda’s Burning Flames tunes drew the event to a close at Fort James beach.
The energy at the Antigua Edition of ‘Live-Virtual Vacation Experiences’ was fun and celebratory as some guests turned their homes into their very own tropical oasis, arriving in sun hats and sunglasses with a tropical drink in hand.
October is typically the time Canadian visitors also known as “snowbirds” plan their escape from the harsh Canadian winters. They can now fly direct from Toronto starting November 1 on regularly scheduled Air Canada flights.
