Thirty-five years after the Anguilla Government embarked on its first of several tourism policies in 1978, work towards a comprehensive policy is now in progress.
The Ministry of Tourism has engaged various groups of stakeholders, including the public and private sectors, the clergy and other influential persons, to assist in the formulation of such a policy. The aim is to ensure that there is a wide cross-section of views to take into account in drafting the final policy statement.The various groups met at two of the final sessions at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Monday and Tuesday this week. They were assisted by Ms Gina Brooks, Tourism Planner, and Ms Patricia Harrigan, Product Development Officer, both serving in the Ministry of Tourism. The first task of the stakeholders was to complete a tourism policy questionnaire intended to guide the responsible development of the tourism sector.
The questionnaire fielded three specific questions as follows: Do you agree with the low/high value approach to tourism development? Do you agree that Anguilla’s tourism should be developed on the principles of sustainability? Should investment in specified tourism facilities be reserved for bona fide land investors? If yes, what type of facilities?
The stakeholders were also asked whether Government’s role was to: facilitate private sector investment; regulate the industry to ensure compliance; establish national and sectoral policies; stimulate and strengthen linkages with other sectors such as agriculture, fishing and craft; create legislation to preserve and promote historical, natural and cultural resources; cause all future tourism development to be guided by the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan; require Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for all tourism developments; institutionalise programmes for improving access and attracting airlines; develop visitor attractions; and ensure that Anguilla’s image is always consistent with an upmarket quality destination.
There were also questions as to whether Government should approve condominiums, fractional ownership and time share projects; further diversify Anguilla’s core tourism product by encouraging nature tourism; medical tourism; culinary tourism; diving/marine parks; events/festivals tourism; a yacht marina; meetings and conventions; championship golf; eco-tourism; sports tourism; educational tourism; weddings and honeymoons; diaspora tourism; and heritage tourism.
Other questions were about: reducing seasonality; increasing visitor length of stay and spending; improving the visitor experience in arrears of access; increasing occupancy; and increasing long stay and day visitors.
The stakeholders were asked whether the Government should enact or review legislation with respect to beach vending; vacation real estate; ferry and charter boats; taxi/tourist transport; security of tourists; and noise abatement.
The questionnaire asked if Government should develop or review policies on cruise tourism; the operation of buses and taxis; food vans and stalls; travel agent and press trips; and ferry and charter boats. It also inquired whether Government should enact or enforce legislation to encourage better waste management for yachts and cruise ships; activate the litter warden system; institute measures to ensure a safe destination for citizens and tourists; and introduce a cadre of Tourist Police.
The final section of the questionnaire asked whether Government should: establish schemes to register and license all tourist services; establish an environmental management agency to ensure environmental considerations as part of the planning process; establish controls to protect natural resources from overuse; develop waste management legislation for yachts and cruise ships; limit cruise ships to 100, 200, 300 or 400 passengers; encourage jet skis; permit gambling and casino facilities in Anguilla; permit gaming activities only in accordance with the Public Lotteries Act; and whether Government land should be leased on long term to qualified investors for developing essential projects.
The various matters covered by the questionnaire are aimed at ensuring that there is a clear and unambiguouspolicy to guide the sustainable development of tourism in Anguilla. This was pointed out by Mr Foster Rogers, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Development, Investment, Commerce and Tourism.
