| Twenty delegates from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation Conference held in St Martin last week were hosted to breakfast at Paradise Cove on Sunday September 18 followed by a tour of the island. |
The group included Directors of Tourism and travel agents from several Caribbean islands as well as from the UK, New York, Florida and California. The breakfast and tour were arranged by the staff of Paradise Cove and the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) with assistance from the “Tourism is We Ting Club” of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School, led by teacher and ATB board member, Carl Woodley.
Chief Minister Hubert Hughes welcomed the delegates to the island describing it as quiet, hospitable and almost crime free. He suggested that vacationers could combine a visit to St Maarten/St Martin with one to Anguilla and hoped this could take place. He commended Dr Franklin and Sherille Hughes who were hosting the breakfast at Paradise Cove. Eustace Guishard, Chairman of the ATB, welcomed the visitors on behalf of the Tourist Board and urged them to relax and enjoy the island. He expressed appreciation to the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School students for assisting with the organization of the tour and welcoming the delegates. Sherille Hughes, speaking on behalf of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association, said that they are proud and pleased to host the delegates and urged the travel agents to remember that Anguilla is just “ a hop and a skip” away from St. Martin/St Maarten so both islands can be enjoyed in one visit. The Chief Minister who attended the Conference described it as an important one and noted that it was the first time the CTO had decided to have it hosted in French St Martin which opened up St.Martin/St Maarten and Anguilla to persons who would not normally come. He expressed the hope that the travel agents present would assist with the marketing of the island. Eustace Guishard said that he was very, very happy with the Conference that had energized him and many others. He said that it touched all the many issues affecting Anguilla and the rest of the Caribbean, and that some good marketing ideas which can be carried out with limited resources were given. He said that he hopes Anguilla can benefit from the flights from Europe going into St Maarten and revealed that there is progress on having a dedicated port for immigration on the Dutch side, near to the airport, that will also enable late ferries to run from there. After the breakfast the delegates were taken to see some of the resorts in Anguilla, toured of The Valley, Shoal Bay East and Rendezvous Bay and then had lunch at Cap Juluca. |
