Above: Anguilla (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Anguilla saw a 2.6 percent improvement in the number of tourist stopover arrivals in the first half of 2014, according to new data from the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

The island received a total of 40,426 stopover arrivals, led by a 4.8 percent improvement in the winter season.

The island experienced particularly strong growth from the European market, however, with a 12.4 percent increase over the same period in 2013, to the tune of 4,378 visitors.

The British Overseas Territory also saw an 11.1 percent jump in visits from Canada, to 2,407 in the first half, along with a 1.2 percent improvement from the US market.

Last year, Anguilla received a total of 69,068 tourist arrivals for the full year ,a 6.8 percent increase over the previous year.