ANGUILLA SIGNS AGREEMENT FOR TOURISM PLAN

(The Valley, Anguilla) - The Government of Anguilla has signed an agreement with the Caribbean Development  Bank (CDB) for the preparation of a Sustainable Tourism Master Plan (STMP) for the island. The plan will be funded through a grant of US $150,000 from the Special Resources Fund of the CDB.

A team of highly skilled and qualified tourism specialists will prepare the plan  in the coming months under the supervision of Ms Jasmin Garraway the Tourism Planning and Development Specialist at the Ministry of  Finance. A project implementation team of tourism trained personnel in the tourism unit , will provide the necessary support in collaboration with senior technicians in the public service. A Project Steering Committee comprising of all Permanent Secretaries will provide oversight under the chairmanship of the Deputy Governor.

In his announcement concerning the agreement the Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism the Honourable Hubert Hughes said “It is imperative, that tourism which is the mainstay of our economy is developed on a more sustainable path, as we move ahead”.  “This Masterplan” he added “will  help us to chart the course we want the industry to follow. It will provide the guidelines to help us take proactive measures to manage the sector, and it will ensure that we while we enjoy the rewards of tourism today, our tourism assets will be preserved so that future generations of Anguillians, will also be able to share in the benefits .”

The  Tourism Masterplan is meant to provide  a formal long term ten year plan, for the Government  of Anguilla to use as a reference for informed decision making, related to tourism development and management in general.

Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism the Honourable Haydn Hughes welcomed the agreement saying , “The timing of this agreement is opportune in that the plan will provide a  valuable information base for the consideration of the newly appointed Board of Tourism”.

He also explained that throughout the planning process several stakeholder consultations will be held at intervals. “This will allow Anguillians an opportunity to provide input to the Tourism Master plan , such an  approach is in keeping with this governments commitment to transparency and consultation” he added.

The team of tourism specialists are expected to implement the exercise in phases, starting with a situational analysis of the existing elements of the tourism Product. This will be followed by the identification of and assessment of various options for developing and enhancing the existing tourism product. The primary output of the Master planning exercise will be a detailed strategy and action plan for the development of the Sector.

According to Dr Aidan Harrigan Permanent Secretary for Tourism ,”The plan is meant to meet several objectives, including the development of a diversified and more competitive tourism product in the medium to long term , and enhancing the institutional capacity to manage the tourism sector.” “In addition” he added “ The plan will provide vehicles for strengthening

Anguillas’ presence in existing and new target markets.”

The Administrative framework and supporting mechanisms for the Masterplan  are currently being mobilized in preparation for the site visit of the team of specialists.