The island of Antigua and Barbuda recorded only 159 Covid-19 cases last year, but that number rose to more than 1,000 this year, after borders reopened. Pixabay
On a clear day in Antigua, Uriah Gregory, 43, pulls his taxi van over in front of a guest house painted in bright pink, purple and orange hues, and steps out to help a woman with her luggage.
Pre-pandemic, Gregory estimates his taxi brought in US$1,110 (RM4,556) a month, shuttling visitors from resorts to restaurants and beaches during peak tourist season on the Caribbean island. Now, with few of those visitors in sight, he’s barely averaging US$110 (RM455).
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Tourism minister talks up LIAT importance to discussions with major airlines
By Orville Williams
While the restructuring of regional carrier LIAT remains polarising, Minister of Tourism Charles Fernandez said its continued operation will prove vital in talks with some major international airlines.
The local air travel sector has taken a big hit from the Covid-19 pandemic, with several incoming carriers having to scale down, or in some cases, completely suspend flights to the island. Meanwhile, the financial struggles being faced by LIAT have only served to compound that situation from a regional standpoint.
Efforts to maintain control and improve the efficiency of the Antigua-based carrier will likely increase over the course of the next few months, as Fernandez explained in Parliament yesterday, LIAT will play a critical role in the government’s negotiations with airlift partners.