The opening of Belmond Cap Juluca with 108 rooms, of which 44 in suites, is good news for Anguilla and its people, including some 400 employed there and their families. Investors in the legally-troubled former top property purchased for US $75 million stuck with it despite the devastating impact of Hurricane Irma, to complete its $130 million rebuilding and rehabilitation.
This follows last month’s reopening of CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa with 91 suites and seven villas. Four Seasons, Zemi Beach Resort, Malliouhana, Reef by CuisinArt and others preceded it.
These developments would seem to suggest the island’s high-end tourism is on its way back, as also confirmed by the most recent figures. Another indication is the number of private jets parked at Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport during the Thanksgiving weekend.
The latter could be seen by some as a threat to Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), which has been operating under tents with temporary provisions pending the terminal’s partial reopening this Saturday. Then again, use of PJIA’s general aviation facility catering to private aircraft for commercial traffic as an emergency solution ended already some time ago.
Regardless, a significant portion of persons who travel to and from Anguilla still do so via St. Maarten. This brings business and income not only to the airport and companies located there, but also taxi drivers, restaurants, etc.
The same thing goes for St. Barths, another high-end destination for which PJIA is the main aviation hub. Local carrier Winair is one of the greatest beneficiaries, having to lease extra planes to meet the seasonal demand to the neighbouring island.
These three popular destinations ought to be viewed as complementing rather than competing against each other. Together they are stronger.
