The Anguilla Government published the Final Report of the island’s Sustainable Tourism Master Plan in 2011 which presented policies and strategies to guide the further development of tourism. However, Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism, Mr. Victor Banks, says the Government still regards a Draft Tourism Policy published in 1978, after the ministerial system was introduced in 1976, as an effective mechanism to achieve those goals and objectives.
Mr. Banks was at the time delivering a radio address to declare open Tourism Week 2015 in Anguilla. He said the Master Plan was serving as a catalyst in the transformation of our tourism industry by way of diversifying the island’s product offering of luxury, sun, sand and sea.
“You should not be surprised to learn that even as it stands today, those goals, objectives and vision remain the same,” he stated, and quoted part of the late 1970s original Draft Tourism Policy as follows: “The Anguilla Government is committed to the balanced development of tourism as a major generator of income, employment and growth in Anguilla. The natural assets of the territory will be utilised to the best advantage to create a diversified industry which is responsive to market trends and growth in demand in North America, Europe and the Caribbean Sea. It is Government’s aim to see that the industry provides the product and services demanded by visitors while at the same time guiding its development so that the people of Anguilla can obtain sustainable long term benefits and play their part fully in the progressive expansion of the industry.”
Referring to the theme for Tourism Week 2015, Transforming Tourism through Collaboration and Partnership, Mr. Banks stressed: “As the Government, we will set the tone and will continue to foster lucrative partnerships and collaborations which will continue to usher in the transformation of our tourism industry.” He said that the theme “advocates the importance of unifying our efforts for the growth and success of the industry. It sends out a clarion call for everyone to develop a sense of ownership and to build a collective determination to take our island’s tourism industry to the next level.”
The Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism continued: “We are all aware that tourism is key to our island’s future success. Undoubtedly, we can say that tourism is the most important pillar of Anguilla’s economy. We cannot deny the role that the island’s tourism industry plays in building and securing a solid foundation for Anguilla and Anguillians. Our economy has been built on investment in tourism or, as it is locally described, the circulation of the tourism dollars. It is therefore imperative that we, as Anguillians, truly appreciate the fact that the future of our island is indisputably linked to how we treat our tourism industry.”
Mr. Banks added that it was important that “all tourism stakeholders forge strong partnerships and effective alliances in transforming tourism development in Anguilla.”
