Anguilla’s Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Tourism, Mr. Cardigan Connor, has found this year’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) of much interest to all the regional destinations.
Speaking about the event, Mr. Connor told The Anguillian newspaper: “It is always a case of having the Ministers of Tourism come together in conferences and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, CTO, will give them reports on what the market is saying. I think for 2019 it is pretty much about wellness. One of the keys for the islands is to be able to identify what makes them unique and, for Anguilla, sea salt and sea baths are part of our culture and heritage are what a number of people would regard as being very healthy for them. Pure salt is something that is well-sought after and for us in Anguilla it is part of what we can sell with luxury tourism.
“I think that for the coming year, wellness is the main focus. There are about three trillion dollars that is actually spent in the spa industry, and that is not only about a treatment room, but the environment that you are in. This is because tranquillity comes from whether or not you are walking along the beach, having a swim or out on a sailboat. Activities are the ones that are also selling a great deal more because a number of people are really looking that when they come on holiday there is a programme that they can utilise.
“I was part of that panel which gave me a great opportunity to promote what Anguilla has to offer regarding the spa industry and also, when you talk about culture, something that can really stand out for a number of visitors. It is what is special about Anguilla, what they can do and how culture really fits into their experience. The Welches Fest is something that is educational to us as a people here in Anguilla, but especially to tourists who get an understanding about what life was like in Anguilla going back over the last 100 years.”
Mr. Connor reported that he was one of the judges for the Youth Congress which was part of the tourism event. “It was a case of Junior Ministers of Tourism, mainly young people of school age and those who are studying tourism. It is very important to have our young people understanding and giving their views on what tourism means to the Caribbean region. There were eighteen competitors who took part in the Youth Congress. The winner was Jamaica; second was Martinique an third was St. Maarten. Anguilla did not have a contestant this year, but I spoke to Shellya Rogers-Webster, the Corporate Manager of at the Anguilla Tourist Board, and next year we should have a representative. When you turn up to functions or conferences like that it sends a positive message that you are existing and very keen about what the current trends are.”
Mr. Connor thought that the State of the Tourism Industry Conference dealt with many important matters affecting regional travel.
