With his recent arrival at V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua and Barbuda, Romaine Welds completed a quest to visit all 195 countries in the world. Born in Jamaica, Welds is believed to be the first person in the Caribbean to achieve the goal.

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, The Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority, and the Jamaican Consulate in Antigua were on hand to welcome the 37-year-old, who now lives in the US, alongside his family and travel friends who journeyed to Antigua to mark the momentous occasion with him.

“We’re thrilled to be sharing in this celebration with Romaine,” exclaimed Maria Blackman of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. “How amazing is it to be able to travel and experience the wonders and cultures of the world.”

Welds said his travel adventures begun when he decided to visit bucket-list places he would see on National Geographic. From there he moved on to the ‘7 Wonders of the World,’ then the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries, and the list kept growing. In 2016 when he reached his then goal of visiting 100 countries by the age of 30, he decided to “take on the world!”

“As a student in Jamaica, I used to love geography. It was my favourite subject, but never in a million years did I imagine that I would end up visiting every country in the world,” Welds said. “It has been a life changing experience. I’ve learned so much while travelling and meeting other inspiring globetrotters around the world and now finally, I have made it to the finish line, visiting 195 countries while working full time!”

On his reason for choosing Antigua and Barbuda as his final destination, Welds said, “I thought it would be great to complete this journey close to home where it all started. I settled mostly on Antigua because it seems like a mini hub in the Caribbean with lots of flight connections. As I wanted my friends and family to get flights easily to join me on this final journey, and also for the beautiful beaches – the choice fell on Antigua & Barbuda.”

Following his arrival on Sept. 18, Romaine spent a week in Antigua, exploring the destination with friends.

Welds currently lives in San Francisco, where he works as a ground agent for a major American airline, which assisted him in his travels. His next goal is to visit festivals and tribes around the world.

Romaine Welds Travel Adventures can be found on Instagram @Travelingtheworldwithromaine.