Tourism officials inAnguillamet with local agents of cruise ships on Wednesday, February 8, to discuss the promotion of the island as a destination for high-end cruise lines and some of the planned activities for the visitors.
The meeting was presided over by Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism, Haydn Hughes, along with Director of Tourism, Candis Niles, and Member of the Tourist Board, Oliver Mac Donna. Among the others was Anguilla’s Marketing Representative for the North American market inNew York, Marie Walker, who gave an update on her discussions with cruise line officials in Puerto Rico and theUnited States.
Mrs. Walker told The Anguillian afterward that efforts were being made to generate a heightened interest in Anguilla among operators of high-end cruise ships in Puerto Rico and theUS. “There is a tremendous interest in the destination as people continue to look for new experiences, and there is an opportunity for expansion on the St. Maarten cruise itinerary forAnguilla, to be included,” she stated. “We have also been hand-picking very high-end cruise lines to visitAnguillaand take their very high disposal income to the island so that they can enjoy not just the beaches but the heritage. We have a lot of opportunities coming, and we have packages that we have already put together including our restaurants and many attractions on the island.”
Mr. Hughes said the Ministry of Tourism had advised Mrs. Walker that there was a need for her to pursue high-end cruise ships as a means of attracting more visitors toAnguilla. “She has done tremendous work, and attended the FCC meeting inPuerto Ricoin October 2011 and got a great deal of feedback. As a result, we have an increase in cruise ships coming toAnguilla,” he stated.
“We have reached out to the cruise ships out of St. Maarten and a lot of day trippers will be coming from there as well. We convened this meeting, relative to cruise ships, with all the agents inAnguillato hear their concerns, and to see how we can partner together in enhancing the experience of not only the agents, but more so, the passengers on these cruises ships. The interest of these passengers is important as other guests or tourists coming toAnguilla.”
Asked what some of the arrangements were for cruise ship passengers visiting Anguilla, Mr. Hughes replied: “One of the things that we have overlooked, over the past many years, is the museum that Colville Petty has inAnguilla. I am saddened to say that too many of our people have not gone to that museum. I have been privileged to go to that museum on more than one occasion. I am always fascinated by what I see there. The artifacts include some of the original chains that our forebears had on their ankles and hands at some point.
“We are incorporating the [Heritage Collection] Museum in our whole package. As a matter of fact, we have incorporated it in our ‘fam’ trips that are coming toAnguilla, and it is a highlight. It is one of the aspects that we want to feature in our tourism offerings.”
