This unknown Caribbean island will break tourist records in 2024

Located in the eastern Caribbean Sea lies a British Overseas Territory full of vast sun-drenched beaches: the island of Anguilla.

What many don’t know is that its popularity has been steadily increasing in recent years. According to the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB), the island is breaking tourist records this year, just like in 2023.

The country was welcome in the first quarter 62,188 travelers for a 22.2 percent increase over 2023 totalsATB officials said.

Also, The number of tourists who spend at least one night at the destination has increased by 15 percent compared to 2023.

These rather positive results have been made possible thanks to visitors from key tourism markets such as the United States and Canada.

So far in 2024, 41,399 American tourists landed in Anguilla, a 32.7 percent increase from the same period in 2023.

For his part, Also this year, 4,689 Canadians, an increase of 22.4 percent compared to 2023, visited the country.

In December 2023, the country broke another record with 19,178 arrivals, an increase of 27.9 percent compared to 14,992 in the same period in 2022.

But the ambitious government of Anguilla is not completely satisfied with these figures and wants to take the activities to a whole new level.

To achieve this, the island’s Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA) is undergoing major renovations, expected to be completed in 2025.

“This government is committed to significantly modernizing Anguilla’s infrastructure for the benefit of both our visitors and, most importantly, our community on the island.” said Haydn Hughes, Anguilla’s Minister of Infrastructure, Communications, Housing, Utilities and Tourism.

Earlier this year, the country also opened a new ferry terminal in Blowing Point as part of its new marketing strategy.

“The opening of the Blowing Point Ferry Terminal is another promise fulfilled, along with the Valley Main Road redesign, recent upgrades at the airport and the development of the 20-year airport master plan,” said Hughes.

Anguilla’s economy is heavily dependent on luxury tourism, offshore banking and lobster fishing.

According to experts, the island’s economic growth is highly dependent on foreign investments from countries such as the United States, Canada and some European countries.

Reasons behind the growth of tourism in Anguilla

Stacey Liburd, director of tourism for Anguilla, believes these optimistic statistics are possible because of the support they receive from their stakeholders.

“Tourism thrives on collaboration, and this remarkable achievement underlines the immense collaboration and support we receive from our valued stakeholders,” she said.

According to Anguilla’s Tourist Board, the main reason behind its current success lies in expanding its marketing efforts in 2024, through the introduction of “new destination pillars and developing new markets to increase arrivals and occupancy rates while growing Anguilla’s tourism sector.”