Small-scale Caribbean nation Anguilla posted its largest-ever visitor arrivals in 2023, hosting 95,944 overnight travelers, surpassing the record set in 2019, said Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) officials in a statement.

The country¡¯s overall 2023 visitor arrivals, including travelers on day trips, totaled 155,732 visitors, six percent below 2019 totals.

Anguilla¡¯s December 2023 visitor arrivals were particularly strong and augur well for the winter season, totaling 19,178 travelers, a 27.9 percent increase from the 14,992 hosted in December 2022.

¡°These results affirm that Anguilla remains a highly sought-after destination, in a highly competitive region,¡± said Kenroy Herbert, ATB¡¯s chairman.

¡°We made a strategic decision to diversify our tourism product, developing and promoting experiences that go beyond our spectacular beaches and superb cuisine,¡± Herbert said. ¡°And this is resonating with consumers in our target markets and attracting first-time visitors to our shores.¡±

Previously reached only via connecting flights, American Airlines in 2021 launched the first-ever flights to Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport from Miami International Airport.

American currently operates daily direct flights from Miami to Anguilla, with two flights on Saturdays. The schedule increased to twice-daily service on Dec. 20, 2023 and will continue through the summer of 2024. Connections between Anguilla and the U.K. and Canada are also available through American¡¯s service.

Additionally, Anguilla¡¯s Blowing Point Ferry Terminal opened in January 2023, welcoming travelers arriving by private charter and public ferry.

The port is Anguilla¡¯s primary entry point for visitors arriving via St. Maarten¡¯s Princess Juliana International Airport, a key Anguilla gateway. A new departure hall and expanded check-in hall are both scheduled to open at the airport this winter.

Visitors traveling from St Maarten have three options to reach Anguilla. Travelers can take a short inter-island flight transfer (approximately seven minutes). They can also take a 25-minute boat transfer from the Anguilla-St. Maarten Ferry Terminal on St. Maarten¡¯s Dutch side.

Travelers may also take a 30-minute public ferry ride from Marigot on St. Martin, the island¡¯s French side. Both ferry services arrive at Anguilla¡¯s Blowing Point terminal.

ATB will ¡°[expand] its marketing efforts in 2024, unveiling new destination pillars and entering new markets [working] towards increasing arrivals and occupancy levels as [ATB grows] Anguilla¡¯s tourism industry,¡± ATB officials said.

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