“Imaging trading sidewalks for beach walks. Who wouldn’t want to come and walk in paradise?” wonders Kenroy Herbert. And while the chairman of the Anguilla Tourist Board is talking specifically about the island’s Digital Nomad program whereby visitors can stay and work on-island for an extended period, the sentiment applies to any prospective visitor who is weary of today’s troubled urban environments, and soon, winter.
To that end, the tiny island is accelerating the business of welcoming back visitors with the introduction of Phase 2 re-opening protocols relating to the pandemic (effective Nov. 1), and having had no COVID-19 cases for months (and only three in total).
But tourism officials are quick to point out that stringent regulations are still in effect, including a mandatory 10-day stay-in-place order for Canadians (14 for other higher risk countries like the US) and a three-test system that requires a negative test obtained three to five days before travel to the island, another upon arrival, and a third on day 10. Visitors must also have mandatory medical insurance that covers COVID treatment for at least 30 days.
To cover the costs of the on-island tests and other coronavirus protocols, visitors will be charged an escalating fee (starting at US$300 p.p./$500 per couple) based on length of stay.
“People are looking for a destination that has treated this whole COVID thing seriously,” says tourism consultant (and former CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization) Hugh Riley. “And Anguilla is a destination that has paid attention to the science and listened to the scientists, and this is destination where the tourism board hasn’t just been saying, ‘Come on down!’ They have been adamant that every i is dotted and every t crossed.”
Moreover, when visitors do arrive, they will find a “paradise” known for its open spaces, uncrowded beaches, wide range of outdoor activities, and otherwise safe environment – all appealing attributes in a post-pandemic world.
Bubble concept
During the stay-in-place period, short-term visitors are subject to a newly introduced “vacation bubble concept,” which is designed to allow properties to safely offer their guests access to a variety of approved amenities, services, and activities. These include dining out at certified “bubble” restaurants; golf; scuba diving; snorkeling; kayaking; glass-bottomed boat rides; outdoor yoga, select outdoor and indoor fitness activities; and offshore cay excursions to Sandy Island, Scilly Cay and Prickly Pear, including private lunches. Advance reservations are required for all activities (which vary by property), with transportation provided by a certified ground operator.
Longer-stay guests who pass their day-10 test are free from any restrictions and can roam the island at will, including renting a car.
Accommodation
Meanwhile, while many of Anguilla’s villas opened in Phase One, several top-rated resorts have come on stream in Phase Two, including Belmond Cap Juluca, Frangipani Beach Resort and Tranquility Beach Anguilla. And more are set to follow: CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa on Nov. 14, the Four Seasons Resort & Residences and the Quintessence Hotel on Nov. 19; Zemi Beach House, LXR Hotels & Resorts on Dec. 14, and Malliouhana, Auberge Resorts Collection on Dec. 17.
Select properties in the (mid-range) Charming Escapes Collection, including Carimar Beach Club, Shoal Bay Villas, Meads Bay Villas and La Vue are also open and accepting guests.
It should be noted that there are no all-inclusives on the island.
Herbert points out that all Anguilla hotels must be certified and approved for health and safety standards, with a full updated list available on the tourist board website. A complete list of bars, restaurants, and lively hangouts is also posted on the site, and updated weekly as additional establishments become certified.
While the pandemic has certainly disrupted travel to and on Anguilla, minister of tourism Hayden Hughes says the island is still forging ahead with plans for the future, including a new ferry terminal and airport redevelopment.
Hughes says delivery and distribution of a vaccine will surely see Anguilla move to “Phase 3” – “no more restrictions” – but that, at the same time, he believes, “the world will never be the same coming out of COVID,” adding, he believes that “people will always take precautionary measures.”
He also expects that the travel industry is going to change in a similar fashion to after 9-11.
“This (the pandemic) is going to be a revolutionary change to the way people travel,” he says. “But I honestly believe that travel is going to come back better than before. Travel is the most resilient industry in the world. It will always come back!”
And Anguilla is ready.
Part of the British Caribbean, Anguilla can be reached via St. Maarten with Air Canada, WestJet and Sunwing, and then a seven-minute onward flight, or by 30-minute ferry. For information on pre-entry approval protocols, visit the tourist board’s website, www.ivisitanguilla.com.