The British Overseas Territory, renowned for its powder-white beaches, exemplary culinary scene and outstanding accommodation, received 98,000 global visitors from January – May 2024, outstripping the total arrivals for 2019, which stood at 95,000. British tourist arrivals to Anguilla in 2023 were 17 per cent up on 2022, and UK arrival figures for 2024 indicate that the year will end 30 per cent up on 2023. 

From 4 – 12 November, the ATB team conducted a series of individual meetings with UK tour operators and leading luxury focused travel agents; exhibited at World Travel Market on the CTO stand; and participated in a Caribbean Ministerial Roundtable featuring Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism from across the Caribbean. 

A highlight of the visit was a dedicated Anguilla trade dinner in London, where Richardson showcased the island’s new tourism investments and developments, the Clayton J Lloyd International Airport masterplan plan, improved airlift and accessibility to the island, new sustainability developments and Anguilla’s diverse product offerings, festivals, cultural experiences and events. 

“The Anguilla Tourist Board’s dedicated initiatives reflect a focused strategy to position Anguilla as a leading Caribbean destination in the UK market,” stated Deputy Director of Tourism, Mrs. Chantelle Richardson. “By showcasing our world-class offerings and fostering strong relationships with travel trade professionals, Anguilla is set to increase visibility, attract high-value travellers, and drive tourism growth. We are fully committed to repositioning destination Anguilla in the UK market.

“Our island is flourishing thanks to increased investment, following the AI boom, which has boosted the country’s revenue through registration fees for websites that end in the Anguilla-owned domain of .ai., and this is being used to enhance our tourism offering. We have lots of exciting news to share with our UK travel trade partners with new airport infrastructure, increased flights and three new resorts and a luxury marina development coming in 2025 and 2026.”