Tourism is the main source of revenue in Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua's plethora of beaches—said to number as many as 365—and its charter yachting and deep-sea fishing facilities have created the largest tourist industry in the Windward and Leeward Islands. The international regatta and Summer Carnival are popular annual events. Cricket is the national pastime; local matches are played Thursday afternoons, Saturdays, and Sundays. A valid passport is required by all visitors except nationals of the UNITED STATES, Canada and the UK. Visas are not required for short stays.
A wide range of hotels and restaurants served approximately 232,000 tourists in 1999. Receipts from tourism climbed to us$290 that year.
In 1999 the UN estimated that daily expenditure would average $70 in Barbuda, while daily expenditure in Antigua was estimated at $222. These costs vary greatly according to seasonal demand.
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