by Brian Major
Last updated: 4:01 PM ET, Mon July 30, 2018
Ferry service between two of the Caribbean's top-drawing destinations is back up and running again.
This month's re-opening of the Anguilla-St. Maarten Ferry Terminal in the Valley, Anguilla re-established a critical link between the islands, offering more than a charming ancillary travel option for local visitors.
The ferry services are a primary means of access for thousands of Anguilla-bound travelers flying into St. Maarten's Princess Juliana airport from U.S. and Canadian gateways. Princess Juliana airport is also a major regional hub for flights from the U.S., Canada, and nearby Caribbean nations.
The terminal closed in September after suffering significant damage during Hurricane Irma. The terminal re-opening and the resumption of ferry services were announced July 17 by Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) officials. The ferry services connect the Anguilla-St. Maarten Ferry Terminal with St. Maarten's Blowing Point Ferry Terminal, located adjacent to Princess Juliana airport.
In a statement, ATB officials cited the country's Ministry of Tourism as well as charter boat owners, the government of St. Maarten and other Dutch authorities for the diligence, cooperation, time and energy dedicated to getting the facility ready for operation.
Anguilla travelers can also opt for a private motorboat for the 25-minute ride from St. Maarten to Anguilla. Citing the lack of direct air access, ATB last year contracted two operators to supplement the private transportation services with late-night ferry access from St. Maarten.
Anguilla's less-than-direct access hasn't prevented its visitor arrivals from growing in last several years. The trend continued in 2016, the last year for which full-year statistics are available. During that time, Anguilla recorded 79,239 overnight, land-based tourist arrivals, an 8.2 percent increase over 2015.
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