Dear Mr. Hughes,
It has been brought to the attention of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association (AHTA) that despite overwhelming outcries from the industry stakeholders and wider community, the introduction of legislation to allow for the use of jet skis in Anguilla, is again being considered by the Government and is seeking public consultation. This was posted on the Government website only yesterday, with a deadline for consultation on the 24th of September 2014, an inadequate time period for fair discussion and input.
Sir, we wish to reiterate for the record, that we stand firmly with our membership, who has overwhelmingly rejected the introduction of jet skis into Anguilla, time and time again. Additionally, if you would refer to the Tourism Master Plan, you will see where this does not fit in with Anguilla’s Tourism, now or in the future. As evidenced by the feedback on jet skis, of the recently heldTourism Policy Survey,the members of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association stands resolute andfirm against the introduction of these activities for the following reasons:
• The noise and physical threat of jet skis will damage our core product offering of “tranquility wrapped in blue” on our beaches and waters, which form the bedrock of our tourism product offering and appeal as a destination.
• Jet skis pose an accident threat and health and safety risk to our resident and visitor swimmers, a risk of severe injury or death, which would be an additional strain on our stretched and limited emergency response medical resources, whilst giving rise to a health and safety challenge, a liability issue and a negative publicity nightmare. (See appendix attached of feedback from Tourism colleagues around the region who warn against the ills of Jet Ski activities).
• Jet skis have been known to compromise a country’s safety and security in terms of facilitating the importation of harmful, illegal substances and weapons, further stretching our limited marine policing capabilities and potentially aggravating our current crime situation.
• The introduction of jet skis will open up an onslaught of negative publicity and a public relations nightmare for the island among its loyal visitor base and the travel trade.
• Jet skis appeal to a very small portion of the visitor types, yet cause great distress to our mainstream markets. There is no evidence from our members, the tourism providers, to suggest that this is a significant requested area of interest from our visitors.
• Jet skis are in direct conflict with the The Sustainable Tourism Master Plan which has been embraced by both Government and the private sector to guide Tourism policies to ensure and protect a sustainable Tourism industry. By its very nature, jet skis and gambling would eat away at the very core of what we offer as the Anguilla Experience.
• Our visitors to the island are constantly saying NO to jet skis as seen by the number of persons who have written over the years regarding this issue. We have enclosed many of these correspondences.
The members of the AHTA are baffled as to why Anguilla would want to lift the Ban on Jet Skis now when most of our Caribbean neighbors are seeking to either ban or tighten the legislation on Jet Skis. The AHTA has written to government regarding our concerns regarding Jet Skis at least three times prior with our last communication being in April of this year. We ask that as the major job creators and investors in Anguilla,we be given a voice in the discussions (consultation process) before this issue goes to the House of Assembly.
Regards
Mr. Delroy Lake
President of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
