You know it’s a good year for tourism when you break your 2019 visitation levels five months into the year.
Anguilla Tourism officials are making the rounds in Eastern Canada this week and held a media lunch in Toronto on 01OCT.
Stacey Liburd, Director of Tourism for the Caribbean island, said Anguilla had 98,000 visitors through the first five months of this year. They had 95,000 in all of 2019, a high-water mark for tourism, so they’re already in superb shape.
“Even if nobody visited for the rest of the year, we’d have a new record,” Liburd said with a smile.
Canadian and U.S. visitor numbers aren’t yet available, but Liburd said both markets are performing well.
As well as meeting with the media this week, Liburd also took time to talk with suppliers, including Sunwing and Air Canada Vacations. They met with more industry officials in Ottawa on 2OCT and were to spend 03OCT in Montreal.
Liburd said one key for Anguilla's future tourism is the island’s new airport. There are limited flights available now from North America, and no direct flights from Canada, due to the airport’s small size. But a new passenger terminal is expected to be completed in 2025, and a new, longer runway that will be able to accept 737 Max 8 planes is coming in 2026, she said.
It will not only boost Anguilla tourism by making more direct flights available, but it will reduce the island’s reliance on the airport in Sint Maarten/Saint Martin.
Air Canada or Porter Airlines would be great partners, she added.
Liburd said some of the airport improvements are being paid for in an unusual fashion. When world authorities assigned Anguilla with its own domain address many years ago, they gifted the island with “ai.com.”
Domain registry companies have to pay the Anguillan government a fee whenever someone wants “ai” in their domain address, and that’s become more common as artificial intelligence (AI) companies expand worldwide.
Liburd said Anguilla earned USD$32 million last year for use of the domain, and expects that figure to climb to maybe $52 million by 2026.
It’s a gift from the Internet gods that has helped the island with everything from needed infrastructure to health care.
NEW HOTELS AND RESORTS
A flagship marina, yacht club and luxury resort, The Savannah Bay Marina and Resort is coming to southeast Anguilla in partnership with a 5-star hotel group. Liburd said it’s a 15-year project
Ani Private Resorts is slated to open on Shoal Bay next year, with 15 suites, a tennis court, a gym, a spa, and a beachfront pavilion.
Malliouhana, one of the islands most enduring places to stay, will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year with special culinary, musical and cultural events.
“We’re going to party like it’s 1984,” Liburd said with a laugh.
Two Anguilla properties made the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards list of top 40 Caribbean resorts for 2024. Zemi Beach House was rated sixth, while Malliouhana came in 33rd.
Liburd said Anguilla regularly invites advisors to visit on fam trips and sponsors webinars for agents. They’re working on a new advisor training site, which should launch next year.
Anguilla Tourism is working with on-island partners to develop volunteer opportunities to enhance the tourism experience while giving visitors a chance to give back to the community, Liburd said. The island also aims to become “the most sustainable island in the region.”
They’re also putting a big push on to bring more divers to experience the crystal-clear waters of Anguilla.
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Anguilla is well-known for its great festivals. Here are a few to think about for your clients, or for consumers.
Moonsplash is the longest-running independent music festival in the Caribbean, featuring top musical performances under the full moon at Dune Preserve. The festival returns in March of 2025.
The Festival Del Mar, a “celebration of all things sea,” takes place in Island Harbour over Easter Weekend.
The Anguilla Culinary Experience is an annual extravaganza for foodies. It will be held 30APR to 3MAY, 2025.
The inaugural Anguilla Music Tourism Convention runs in November 2025.
Anguilla hosted more than 100 buyers and suppliers at CMITE, the Caribbean and Mexico Meeting and Incentive Travel Exchange, in August of this year. CMITE connects North American meeting and incentive planners with suppliers in the Caribbean and Mexico.
