Tourism officials finalised an agreement, on Friday, for the renowned Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge to culminate in Antigua for the next five years.
Minister of Tourism and Investment Charles Fernandez deemed the agreement as significant, noting that the campaigns have brought tremendous attention to the tourist destination through extensive international media coverage.
“Given the growth that this rowing challenge has seen over the past seven years and the exposure that has been given to our destination and our local rowers, such as Team Antigua Island Girls through their historic feat last year on BBC, BET, CNN and Essence Magazine, this opportunity is nothing short of a win for both parties involved,” Fernandez said.
“2021 will see our first local pairs team participating in the challenge and I can once again anticipate the remarkable PR opportunities and national enthusiasm that will surface as a result,” he said in a release.
Carsten Heron, CEO of Atlantic Races also sees the contractual arrangement as extremely beneficial to the race’s viability.
“With this year being our 6th race returning to the historic Nelson’s Dockyard, we are pleased as organisers that our efforts are being recognised by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, and this gives us stability for the next five years,” Heron said.
The Talisker Atlantic Challenge, a 3,000 nautical mile race dubbed “The World’s toughest row” starts from La Gomera in the Canary Islands and culminates at the UNESCO certified World Heritage site, Nelson’s Dockyard National Park in Antigua.