by Brian Major
Last updated: 2:35 PM ET, Fri February 2, 2024
Small-scale Caribbean nation Anguilla posted its largest-ever
visitor arrivals in 2023, hosting 95,944
overnight travelers, surpassing the record set in 2019, said Anguilla Tourist
Board (ATB) officials in a statement.
The
country’s overall 2023 visitor arrivals, including travelers on day trips, totaled
155,732 visitors, six percent below 2019 totals.
Anguilla’s December 2023 visitor arrivals were particularly strong
and augur well for the winter season, totaling 19,178 travelers, a 27.9 percent
increase from the 14,992 hosted in December 2022.
“These results affirm that Anguilla remains a highly sought-after
destination, in a highly competitive region,” said Kenroy Herbert, ATB’s chairman.
“We made a strategic decision to diversify our tourism product,
developing and promoting experiences that go beyond our spectacular beaches and
superb cuisine,” Herbert said. “And this is resonating with consumers in our
target markets and attracting first-time visitors to our shores.”
Previously reached only via connecting flights, American Airlines in
2021 launched the first-ever flights to Clayton J. Lloyd
International Airport from Miami International Airport.
American currently operates daily direct flights from Miami to
Anguilla, with two flights on Saturdays. The schedule increased to twice-daily
service on Dec. 20, 2023 and will continue through the summer of 2024. Connections
between Anguilla and the U.K. and Canada are also available through American’s
service.
Additionally, Anguilla’s Blowing Point Ferry Terminal opened in
January 2023, welcoming travelers arriving by private charter and public ferry.
The port is Anguilla’s primary entry point for visitors arriving
via St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport, a key Anguilla gateway. A new departure hall and expanded check-in
hall are both scheduled to open at the airport this winter.
Visitors traveling from St Maarten have three options to reach
Anguilla. Travelers can take a short inter-island flight transfer (approximately
seven minutes). They can also take a 25-minute boat transfer from the
Anguilla-St. Maarten Ferry Terminal on St. Maarten’s Dutch side.
Travelers may also take a 30-minute public ferry ride from Marigot
on St. Martin, the island’s French side. Both ferry services arrive at Anguilla’s
Blowing Point terminal.
ATB will “[expand] its marketing efforts in 2024, unveiling new
destination pillars and entering new markets [working] towards increasing
arrivals and occupancy levels as [ATB grows] Anguilla’s tourism industry,” ATB officials
said.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
