January was the best month ever for Anguilla tourism, according to newly released data from the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB). Stopover arrivals were up 22 percent when compared to the ATB’s base year of 2016, which exceeded the ATB’s 20 percent growth target. Arrivals from the United Kingdom grew the most, by just under 50 percent, followed by the United States (+27%) and Canada (+13%).
Hon. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism, Sports, Youth & Culture, attributed the success to a number of promotional initiatives, including sales blitzes and heightened public relations activities.
Connor also said that the success is a result of tourism stakeholders’ investment in rebuilding efforts for Anguilla’s restaurants, villas and hotels.
Anguilla had been hit hard by the devastating hurricane season of 2017, but since then it has staged a major comeback, inspiring Signature Travel Group to spotlight it on its “Where to Go in 2019” list of places to visit, and Travel Agent to name it an Emerging Destination in our own latest feature on the subject.
Most recently Altamer Resort, a collection of villas on the island’s Shoal Bay West Beach, reopened the Antilles Pearl Villa, a 12,000-square-foot accommodation with five bedrooms, all of which have en-suite baths. (The master suite bathroom even has a Jacuzzi tub and a shower sized for two). The resort also opened the new Petit Topaz Villa.
Other notable reopenings throughout the past year include Malliouhana, Auberge Resort Collection; CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa; Belmond Cap Juluca; View Fort Estate; and Four Seasons Resort and Residences.
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