ANGUILLA–As well as launching the “Beyond Extraordinary” campaign in New York, tourism officials travelled to Toronto, Canada, after a ten-year absence there, to announce that Anguilla is back and better than ever.
Chair of the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB), Donna Banks said Canada is Anguilla’s second largest market behind the US. “We have every confidence in this market and its ability to deliver on what we need in Anguilla, and we also believe that we can deliver to our clients what they’re looking for,” she said. “So I think it will be a perfect marriage in 2019, and there should be more visibility of Anguilla in the Canadian market.”
“This renewed partnership with Canada will be boosted by increased airlift into Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) in St. Maarten, Anguilla’s main gateway. The return of service from several major markets, particularly Toronto and Montreal, along with increased frequency from Atlanta, New York and Miami, all bodes well this winter,” said Cardigan Connor, Anguilla’s Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism. The island has also committed to expanding access through its own international airport (Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport) by working with airlift consultants and private sector partners, as well as expanding the San Juan gateway as a viable alternative to St. Maarten.
Connor, who stressed that the evening was not about dwelling on events of the past, focused on the latest island developments instead, namely a new facility to process visitors at Blowing Point ferry terminal that is set to open this week. Upgrades have also been made to Clayton J. Lloyd airport, including the installation of new runway lights and a new global positioning system (GPS) that allowed for night operations to resume back in September. “First impressions are lasting impressions,” Connor said of these point-of-entry enhancements.
Emphasis was also placed on the fact that Anguilla’s major hotels, Belmond Cap Juluca, CuisinArt, Four Seasons and Malliouhana, as well as Quintessence Hotel and Zemi Beach Resort, are all open and receiving many guests for Christmas after upgrades and renovations.
He also noted that Anguilla must offer more than “sun, sand and sea” so there are five experimental sections for promotional activities including Romance, Adventure, Events & Culture, Foodies, and Health & Wellness. “These pillars,” said Connor, “add depth and dimension to Anguilla’s product offering, and allow the destination to create new packages that target various audiences.
With new niche offerings, it is the ATB’s hope that Anguilla will become known as not only a luxury destination, but one that can accommodate all budgets. “We’re a playground for the rich, famous and not-so-rich and famous,” joked Banks. “This is our main message moving forward, that we’re not just about high-end properties anymore. We have something for everyone.”
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/83752-tourism-officials-making-known-that-anguilla-is-back-and-better
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