By
Laura Hyde |
28 February 2025
Construction has begun on the new cruise terminal at Antigua Cruise Port (ACP), which is operated by Global Ports Holding (GPH).
A commemorative groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new terminal, which will be located at the port’s fifth berth, was attended by Mehmet Kutman, chairman and CEO of GPH, along with senior company executives. They were joined by Sir Rodney Williams, governor-general of Antigua and Barbuda, Antigua’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Charles Fernandez, the minister of tourism.
“This landmark project underscores our deep commitment to Antigua and Barbuda, reinforcing our close collaboration with local authorities and key stakeholders,” said Kutman. “Together, we are shaping a vibrant future for cruise tourism, generating lasting economic opportunities for the community. As the world’s largest cruise port operator, GPH is proud to play a vital role in the long-term growth and success of this incredible destination.”
Mehmet Kutman (left), chairman and CEO of Global Ports Holding, was joined by Sir Rodney Williams (second from left), governor-general of Antigua and Barbuda, and Prime Minister Gaston Browne (third from right)
The new terminal is expected to fill four acres and it is hoped it will “significantly enhance” the guest experience for passengers visiting during homeporting and transit calls while creating a “positive ripple effect” across the twin island nation.
“Chairman Kutman and his team from GPH deserve our gratitude, for continuing to deliver on the agreement signed in 2020,” said Fernandez. “This magnificent expansion project will put Antigua and Barbuda at the top of the list, in my opinion, for best cruise port in the region.”
The terminal will include food and beverage outlets, retail shops, a bazaar, a park with an ice cream parlour and the Antigua Day Club, which will feature a swimming pool, restaurant and bar.
“This partnership is what we consider to be a good fit with our economic policy,” said Browne. “I can say definitively that this arrangement is working well for us; we have already benefited from a significant improvement in the product offering and at the same time we have got the capital in order to further build out the facilities here at the fifth berth. [The new terminal] will include a number of amenities to ensure that the visitor experience is second to none.”
The new terminal project has taken five years to plan and finance. “[The terminal] is now set to create hundreds of jobs for the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” said Gasper George, general manager at Antigua Cruise Port. “While many of these jobs will be created during the construction phase, which is scheduled from February 2025 to June 2026, even more rewarding career opportunities will be available once the terminal has been completed. This undertaking represents a massive economic boost for our community with a substantial multimillion-dollar investment being undertaken by GPH. We remain committed to ‘Unlocking Quay Opportunities’ for the people of Antigua and Barbuda.”
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Publish date : 2025-02-27 22:46:00
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