Residents with apartments, homes, villas and Airbnb’s for rent are being encouraged to get in contact with the Ministry of Tourism to be included in the SIDS 4 accommodation listing.
The call comes after the government’s original plan to hire a cruise ship to accommodate hundreds of guests for the conference has been derailed due to the exorbitant costs involved.
Instead of booking a cruise ship to accommodate in excess of 3,000 guests who will arrive in Antigua and Barbuda in less than two months, alternate housing has been earmarked.
Information Minister Melford Nicholas is urging persons to get listed.
“This is an opportunity for them, if they have spare capacity … to make their inventory available through the Ministry of Tourism such that they can be on the bulletin board for persons who are coming here for the conference,” he said.
The government will use a graded system to identify Airbnb’s, houses and apartments suitable for their high-level guests.
These accommodations will be categorised into three levels: A, B, and C. A-level accommodations will cost up to US $280 daily, B-level up to US $250, and C-level up to US $200.
The Ministry of Tourism will oversee the categorisation process, ensuring quality standards are met, particularly for Airbnb listings.
Nicholas shared the progress with the number of listings currently held by the government thus far.
“There is already an ongoing registration programme for Airbnbs with the Ministry of Tourism. They have already more than 450 of these businesses that have already been registered with tourism for other purposes prior to now, and based on the estimate, they could maybe get the number closer to 1,000 properties,” he said.
In addition to accommodation, transportation and security measures are being addressed.
Certified taxi operators within proximity to the chosen accommodations will be engaged, while private security and retired police officers will supplement the efforts of the Royal Police Force and the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force.
Healthcare services are also being bolstered for the conference. According to the authorities, Glanvilles and Villa Polyclinics will operate 24 hours, with the Sir Lester Bird Medical Center on standby, following recent disruptions.
Despite these arrangements, anticipated guest numbers have already decreased from 5,000 to over 3,000, primarily due to limited flights into Antigua.
Nevertheless, authorities are hopeful that the additional accommodations will suffice for this critical event, which aims to address the economic challenges faced by small island nations battling the impacts of climate change.
The 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), will be held in Antigua and Barbuda from 27 – 30 May, 2024, under the theme “Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity”.
