Nov. 1 marked the next phase of Anguilla’s tourism reopening, one that began in August.
Crucially, the new phase includes the introduction of what the island’s tourism official are calling a “Vacation Bubble,” designed to allow hotels and resorts on the island to “safely offer their short-stay guests access to a variety of approved amenities, services and activities while they stay in place.”
“We are pleased to announce that Anguilla’s hospitality product can now reopen in a safe though unprecedented way, subject to inspections and safety protocols designed to protect the health of our visitors and our nation,” said Anguilla Minister of Tourism and Infrastructure Haydn Hughes. “We want everyone to enjoy the Anguilla experience – we invite you to lose the crowd and find yourself.”
The idea is to “allow visitors to interact with Anguilla’s exceptional tourism product while limiting their interaction with Anguilla’s population,” according to the Anguilla Tourist Board.
So what does that mean?
The bubble allows travelers to indulge in their “favorite pastimes: including dining out at certified “bubble” restaurants; playing golf; scuba diving, snorkeling and kayaking; glass-bottomed boat rides; outdoor yoga; select outdoor and indoor fitness activities and daily offshore excursions to Sandy Island Scilly Cay and Prickly Pear, including private lunches.
A number of Anguila’s hotels and resorts have either already reopened or are reopening this month, including Belmond Cap Juluca; Tranquility Beach; Frangipani Beach Resort and the soon-to-open CuisinArt and Four Seasons resorts, among others.
“We recognize that health and safety concerns are paramount for both our visitors and our guests,” said Anguilla’s Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Quincia Gumbs Marie. “In preparation for our Phase Two reopening we have offered free training courses to over 500 tourism employers – from housekeepers to ground transportation and charter boat operators — and over 100 business establishments have been Safe Environment Certified. Our Safe Environment Approval has been awarded to a variety of services and activity providers, as we expand the scope of activities and experiences on offer to our visitors.”
All visitors to the island must show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 3 to 5 days of arrival, along with medical insurance act covers the cost of COVID-19 treatment for 30 days.
Anguilla also has a graduated fee structure for stays of different lengths, starting at $300 for individual travelers for trips of five days or less.
For more, visit Anguilla.
— CJ