Many Caribbean destinations are now well on the road to recovery a year after the devastation they suffered when Hurricane Irma ripped through part of the region.
Anguilla, St Barths, the British Virgin Islands (BVIs), Barbuda and St Martin were among the destinations severely damaged in September 2017 as Irma brought the strongest winds seen in the Caribbean for more than a decade – reaching speeds of up to 185 miles per hour.
Much of these islands’ tourism infrastructure, including hotels, roads and airports, was damaged in this massive storm – including Richard Branson’s Necker Island resort in the BVIs, with the entrepreneur forced to take cover in the property’s wine cellar until the hurricane passed.
But a year on, the situation is clearly improving with some destinations, such as Anguilla and St Barths, being further ahead in their recovery than some of the other badly damaged areas, including the BVIs.
Helen Tabois, senior product and marketing manager, Caribbean and cruise, for Inspiring Travel Company, said: “What’s exciting for us is that in the likes of St Barths and Anguilla, hotels have seized the opportunity not only to restore their properties but to refurbish and enhance them, so they’ll be back better than ever.
“For destinations like this, we’re seeing good demand in particular from repeat bookers who want to be among the first guests to experience the likes of Eden Rock, Le Toiny and Cheval Blanc St-Barth, Isle de France in St Barths and Belmond Cap Juluca in Anguilla.”
Anguilla was boosted by the reopening of several major hotels earlier this year, including The Reef by CuisinArt, Zemi Beach House Hotel and the Four Seasons. Other resorts such as CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa and the new Belmond Cap Juluca are also scheduled to open in November.
Carolyn Brown, Anguilla Tourism Board UK director, added: “Anguilla has bounced back, and will be stronger than ever. With our established product and new openings, we anticipate UK visitor numbers will bounce back significantly throughout 2019.”
Caribtours managing director Paul Cleary agreed: “Anguilla is back. We had a fam trip out there and we’re expecting to have a good year for it.”
