Despite the COVID protocols affecting travel to and from Anguilla, and the strict management of the situation, more tourists are now beginning to arrive on the island, with four resorts having reopened on Thursday, October 21 and Friday, October 22.
Those hotels are Four Seasons Resort and Residences, Anguilla; Cap Juluca, a Belmond Hotel; Malliouhana-Auberge; and Zemi Beach Hotel & Spa. Their reopening and the arrival of guests from various parts of the world mean that more hospitality workers will now find employment – not only at these four particular hotels, but also at villas and other places of tourism accommodation that will reopen in the coming days and weeks. The island’s newest hotel, Aurora Anguilla Resort, now being redeveloped, is expected to open on December 1.
On that date, the new resort will begin providing direct flights for its guests from Miami and New York – the first such provision by one of Anguilla’s hotels.
American Airlines will commence direct flights to Anguilla from Miami on December 8, adding greatly to the number of tourist arrivals and the exposure of the island in the tourism marketplace.
Carimar Beach Club, at Meads Bay, remained open during the slow period. During that time, however, it attracted a number of guests. Now that the new tourism season has begun, it is also expected that Carimar will receive far more additional bookings, thus contributing much to both the accommodation of guests and the hiring of employees.
Another resort which wil contribute to tourist numbers in Anguilla is Frangipani Beach Resort, now reopening.
The hospitality job market in Anguilla should now be considerably taken up – with Four Seasons Resort and Belmond Cap Juluca being in the 500-range of employees.
According to reports, this tourism season appears to be a most active one. It is understood that a growing number of travellers are attracted to Anguilla – having much confidence in the island’s COVID-19 protocols. This is notwithstanding that some persons are of the opinion that the protocols are said to be very restrictive in terms of quarantine and probably costs of testing.
So far, the hard-working Health Team has been commended for its preventive work. The Team is now expected to face a greater workload with increased tourist arrivals and the task of keeping Anguilla safe – in light of rising COVID cases on the island.
