With a stunning backdrop of Belmond Cap Juluca, Minister of Tourism, Mr. Haydn Hughes, told Travel & Leisure Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Jacqueline Gifford that he was delighted Anguilla had won the “Best Island in the Caribbean, Bermuda and Bahamas Award for a straight fourth year.
The Minister was at the time engaged in a virtual interview with the New York-based publication’s Editor. The video interview was facilitated by Pink Mako, a local social media company owned by Mr. Rickiel Hodge.
Replying to the interviewer’s question about what made Anguilla such a special place, Mr. Hughes said:
“I know we have the most beautiful beaches in the world, but it is our people who make Anguilla special. It is their warm and authentic welcome. They are generally about service, taking care of visitors and going to great distances to do so. We are unique compared with other places in the world, and you can’t get it better in this environment. It lends to good living.”
The interview continued as follows:
Gifford: I have a question from one of our viewers: When will Anguilla’s borders be opened?
Hughes: It is a good guess but we are planning to open our borders incrementally, carefully and cautiously. We are one of the few countries in the world that are actually covid-free. So we move around freely here in Anguilla without restrictions, and it is great to do that. However, what we envision is that persons, who want to come to Anguilla on a private jet and rent one of our magnificent villas, can stay for as long as they wish, but will have to adhere to certain protocols.
Gifford: A lot of tourists right now need villas and want that experience. Anguilla has many homes to rent and I know this is really a big thing. Is there anything you can tell me about what the hotels are doing right now?
Hughes: As you can expect, all the hotels are closed and our borders have also been closed. But there are still some tourists on the island – although there have been repatriation flights for some of them. Those who have remained in Anguilla are enjoying all of the services that they can have because a lot of our restaurants are open. We don’t have any private beaches so you are free to go there. If you look behind me you can see how beautiful and pristine they are. Even when we are at full capacity we are not overcrowded – and that is one of the unique things about Anguilla.
There are a number of routes by which you can come to Anguilla via air or sea. You can come via San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Maarten [by ferry] – or jump on one of our small airlines for a 6-7 minute flight to Anguilla; or you can have a private charter. It is very easy to get here. Moving around Anguilla is great. You can rent a car or take a taxi. Life in Anguilla is very lay-back; the weather is beautiful; our people are wonderful and there is nothing to complain about.
