10 Things to Appreciate About Antigua and Barbuda That May Inspire You to Move Here
Antigua and Barbuda is one of the many nations of the Caribbean. It is a popular holiday destination that attracts plenty of tourists, especially during December, January, and February as an escape from the chill of winter.
But apart from its warm weather and gorgeous beaches, the country has so much more to offer. Listed below are 10 things to love about this nation that have inspired countless expats to move here and make it their second home.
1. The Citizenship by Investment Program
Antigua and Barbuda has one of the best citizenship by investment programs in the world, which makes it an excellent destination for business pursuits as well as a better quality of life. The country’s business climate is primed for the arrival of innovative business models.
With the citizenship by investment program, foreigners can become dual citizens and enjoy the business establishment privileges reserved for acknowledged citizens. It’s important to mention as well that the program offers many other perks such as primary healthcare access, basic education for children, and visa-free travel to over 150 jurisdictions. Best of all, you can get your Antiguan passport in approximately 4 to 6 months through the investment program.
If you are keen on moving here or simply becoming a citizen, all you need is to make the investment, and in a matter of months, you will be a certified citizen of Antigua and Barbuda.
2. The Luxurious Accommodations
Antigua and Barbuda is abundant with luxurious accommodations which range from hotels to beachfront rental properties. If you are all about holidaying in style, you can choose from a vast selection of accommodations to meet your specific needs.
You will find that some of these accommodations can also serve as permanent homes. Therefore, if you are considering the citizenship by investment program for you and your family, you can get a first-hand experience of the high quality of life that you can establish here or explore a profitable business opportunity to diversify your investment portfolio.
3. The Beach Life
You have the beach, and there’s the beach life. Coastal towns throughout Antigua and Barbuda will automatically put you in a relaxed mode. The pace of life by the beach will make you forget about the insanely fast life in urban locations.
The beach life is laid-back, and even if people are working to make a living, you won’t get a sense of toxic urgency. Also, locals don’t mind mixing a bit of pleasure to their work-life, therefore, it’s less stressful. With a more relaxed and happier approach to life, one can’t help but come to the realization that there’s no need to be so competitive and in a hurry most of the time.
4. Local Art Scene
The country’s art scene is certainly impressive. It’s not uncommon to find local art galleries and stores that showcase and sell the work of local artists. A lot of expats even contribute to the flourishing art scene by setting up galleries and helping local artists and artisans create a profitable business through their work.
5. Festival
During the month of July, Antigua and Barbuda throws one big and colorful party that can rival Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival. This annual celebration takes part in stages. The first part is all about the partying — there’s an endless flow of food and drinks, which businesses can take full advantage of.
The second part is dedicated to the parades. People from different parts of the globe look forward to these to see the gorgeous costumes and take part in the merry-making filled with singing and dancing.
6. Business Opportunities
As mentioned earlier, Antigua and Barbuda presents an attractive business climate for entrepreneurs. It is not deeply saturated, and there’s a lot of room for innovative business models.
If you have a novel idea for an enterprise, there’s a high likelihood that there’s no other business in the country that shares the same nature. You can serve as a pioneer and gain monopoly of a new sector in a particular industry.
7. Awesome Eats
Antigua and Barbuda boasts of delicious local fare. Being so close to the mountains and the ocean means there is a vast selection of fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables to be found here. Not only those, but traditional cuisine also makes use of different spices that never fail to boost the appetite even of picky young children.
Nobody who has come here has ever complained about the gastronomic selection, proving that the awesome eats of the islands are truly some of the reasons why people come here often or choose to settle permanently.
8. High Standard of Island Living
Do you know that Antigua and Barbuda is called the Switzerland of the Caribbean? There are higher salary rates for workers because the country is one of the richest in the entire Caribbean region.
Aside from that, Antigua and Barbuda is fiercely dedicated to preserving the resources that make it rich. They enforce strict environmental laws and practices to protect the ocean and endemic wildlife. Antiguans even recycle grey water better than North Americans do and use sustainable sources of energy. Thus, locals, expats, and visitors learn to hold a high level of understanding regarding green practices. tempo traveller
9. Safety
This island nation is one of the safest places to go in the entire Caribbean region. Crimes are often limited to petty ones. For both tourists and the growing expat community, there truly aren’t a lot of safety risks to worry about when it comes to exploring and living in Antigua and Barbuda.
10. Easy Communication
English is the official language of the nation. You can travel to the deepest corners of the two main islands and not worry about having troubles communicating with locals to go about different activities. This is why most of the expats in Antigua and Barbuda are from English-speaking nations such as the UK, the US and Australia. There is also a healthy Italian and French expat population.
Indeed, there is so much to appreciate about this island nation. It’s naturally beautiful, it has a rich culture, the people are friendly, and you can establish an excellent quality of life here, especially with the ease with which you can acquire Antigua and Barbuda citizenship. So, if you wish to spend most of your time here because of everything it offers, consider the second citizenship by investment program this country provides.
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AUTHOR BIO
Kal Kennard is a Partner at Citizens International, a white-glove specialist firm offering private client services necessary for citizenship investment into the Caribbean, North America and Europe.
Based in the Caribbean for the past 15 years, she is an experienced consultant who works directly with many professional partners and advises clients worldwide.