Antigua Cruise – By Jeressa Jeremy
Antigua Cruise Port Records
The Antigua Cruise Port is reporting overwhelming interest in its new Upland Development project, with over 100 applications received for just 24 available spots.
Marketing and Communications Manager Elijah James said the expression of interest period, which closed in February, drew a lot of interest.
“We’ve had over 100 applications from different local and also regional and international interests,” James said. “Our focus is, of course, keeping it as local as possible.”
Of the opportunities that the Development offers, it includes 12 commercial stores, each measuring over 1,000 square feet, and 12 kiosks measuring approximately 150 square feet.
James said the project remains on schedule despite the high volume of applications and construction is expected to be completed by July 2026.
“The plan for the Upland Development is supposed to be wide open, nicely for the 1st of November, 2026,” James said.
James said a key challenge in the selection process has been a heavy concentration of applications for food and beverage services.
“One of the key things that we’re trying to do is to ensure that we diversify so we don’t replicate things that are already happening in the other quays, like Redcliffe Quay and Heritage Quay,” he said.
Due to the high volume of interest, James said the port has approached the government about expanding.
“The goal was to have a conversation with the government about potentially other avenues where we can look at giving those persons who have clearly expressed interest and want to invest in tourism,” he added.