Destination News

Silver Airways Begins Service to Anguilla on June 2, 2021

The Valley, Anguilla, May 25, 2021: The Anguilla Tourist Board is pleased to announce that Silver Airways will commence service from San Juan to Anguilla on Friday, June 2^nd, 2021.  The summer flights will operate twice weekly between the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport in Anguilla through August 6, 2021. Silver Airways is the parent company of Seaborne Airlines. Seaborne has operated in Anguilla for many years.

“I am proud to have been a part of the initial negotiations with Seaborne Airlines in 2014 that culminated in regular service to Anguilla.  We are delighted to welcome Silver Airways to Anguilla after this lengthy hiatus caused by the pandemic,” said the Hon. Minister of Tourism, Mr. Haydn Hughes. “Silver/Seaborne has been our valued partner for many years, and the San Juan gateway is vital to the growth of our industry.  Maintaining and expanding access to Anguilla is essential for tourism  development, and the restoration of this service is an important step as we reopen our island to international travelers”, he continued.

“We are honored to service Anguilla, which has long been one of our most popular routes,” declared Captain Steven Dowda, Vice President of Caribbean Operations for Silver Airways and Seaborne Airlines. “Anguilla’s tourism product is exceptional, and our relationship with Anguilla is a strong and mutually beneficial one.  We look forward to working closely with our tourism partners here to grow arrivals to the island and increase service this winter.”

The Silver Airways service will operate twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays, with two rotations each day for a total of four flights per week.

On Thursdays, the flight will depart San Juan at 10:30h and arrive in Anguilla at 11:35h. The return flight will leave Anguilla at 12.15h, arriving in San Juan at 13.   On Saturdays, the flight will depart San Juan at 13.20h and arrive in Anguilla at 14.25h.  The return flight departs Anguilla at 14.55h and arrives in San Juan at 16.00h.  All times given are local. Silver’s codeshare agreements facilitate seamless connections with airline partners American Airlines, JetBlue Airways,  Delta, and Copa.

“The Anguilla Tourist Board will be partnering with our stakeholders on island and our travel advisors in-market to promote Silver’s service as an ideal option for traveling to Anguilla,” said Stacey Liburd, Director of Tourism.  “By flying directly into the island, you not only arrive before noon but in 15 minutes you can be exiting the airport and on your way to the beach!  This service makes traveling to Anguilla easy, convenient and affordable.”

For travel information on Anguilla please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com/escape; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

Nevis Launches New “Around The Garden” Experience

Charlestown, Nevis, May 13, 2021 – Nevis aims to attract travelers interested in culinary and agri-tourism with the introduction of its latest destination experience, the “Around The Garden” tour. Officially launched on May 13, the 5-acre fruit farm in Cades Bay has been developed using a park model where picnic benches, Wi-Fi connectivity and refreshments will be available to guests. The new farm tour will be offered in two tiers, providing visitors with the opportunity to choose either the 40-minute or 60-minute option.

Nevis Tourism Authority CEO Jadine Yarde believes this new attraction showcases another distinct aspect of the destination, one that appeals to the growing culinary tourism market. “Food tourism can play an important role in preserving one’s local heritage; we believe that this latest experience will provide foodies with an ideal opportunity to enjoy our best organic produce and learn about our traditional farming. The tour will also help us to support and promote our local agriculture and communities, and position Nevis as a destination focused on long-term food security and sustainability.”

The “Around the Garden” tour will be conducted twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays, and is now available for booking at Email: aroundthegardentour@gmail.com, with a five-person minimum for each tour. Special group tours can also be arranged on request. Guests are encouraged to dress comfortably so they can enjoy the full farm experience, which includes tasting the wide variety of in-season fruits — starfruit, passion fruit, watermelon, pineapple — and of course, mangoes, the island favorite.

“The Department of Agriculture is excited to make our farm available for the education and leisurely experience of both locals and visitors alike,” stated Floyd Liburd, Deputy Director of Agriculture. “We believe that persons should be able to know and understand how food is produced.  The experience also invites guests to sample the fruits in different ways, e.g.  freshly picked, blended into smoothies, as a refreshing beverage, brewed in hot teas and other local delicacies.”

Today’s travelers are seeking experiential and educational experiences; the Cades Bay Farm offers visitors a fascinating window into the cultivation as well as the nutritional aspects of the various fruits grown on the farm.

Culinary pursuits are an important component of the visitor experience in any destination. The global culinary tourism market was valued at $1.116 billion in 2019 and by 2027 it is expected to have a market value of $1.796 billion, which signifies an annualized growth rate of 16.8%.

For travel and tourism information on Nevis please visit the Nevis Tourism Authority website at  www.nevisisland.com; and follow us on Instagram (@nevisnaturally), Facebook (@nevisnaturally), YouTube (nevisnaturally) and Twitter (@Nevisnaturally).

Belize Removes Use of the Belize Travel Health App Prior to Arrival

Belize City, Belize, May 11, 2021 –– The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) advises that the Government of Belize has taken a decision that travellers entering the country are no longer required to download and complete the Belize Travel Health App prior to arrival in Belize. This recent adjustment to Belize’s COVID-19 Prevention Regulations is outlined in Statutory Instrument No.51 of 2021.

Belize still requires that travellers provide either proof of full COVID-19 immunization received at least 2 weeks prior to arrival, or a negative COVID-19 PCR TEST taken within 96 hours of travel, or a negative rapid test (Rapid Antigen, Sofia, SD Biosensor, and ABBOTT) taken within 48 hours of travel. In addition, international tourists must book at a Gold Standard hotel and present confirmation at immigration.

For up to date information on the destination’s travel protocols and frequently asked questions, please visit: https://www.travelbelize.org/health-safety.

Alaska Airlines Announces Nonstop Service To Belize

BELIZE CITY, BELIZE, Wednesday, May 12, 2021 – The Belize Tourism Board is pleased to announce that Alaska Airlines has confirmed new non-stop service from the West Coast of the United States to Belize, commencing later this year. Belize will become the fourth country that Alaska Airlines flies to from its West Coast hubs, joining Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica. Routes and schedules to Belize will be announced when ticket sales begin in early June.

“Our guests are eager for eco-friendlier leisure destinations, especially as they get vaccinated, and we’re ready to offer them terrific options,” said Brett Catlin, Alaska Airlines Vice President of Network and Alliances. “Belize offers an unbeatable mix of sensational beaches, iconic cayes and rich heritage.”

“We wholeheartedly welcome Alaska Airlines’ announcement of its nonstop flight to Belize. This new partnership signifies that our unwavering commitment to revive and rebuild our tourism industry is gaining momentum and recovery is on the horizon. Air connectivity is the life-blood of our industry and is essential in making Belize accessible to international visitors and stimulating growth.” stated Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Hon. Anthony Mahler.

Alaska Airlines is a major American airline headquartered in SeaTac, Washington, within the Seattle metropolitan area. It is the fifth largest airline in the United States when measured by fleet size, scheduled passengers carried, and the number of destinations served. Alaska Airlines, together with its regional partners Horizon Air and SkyWest Airlines, operate a large domestic route network, primarily focused on connecting the Pacific Northwest and Alaska to over one hundred destinations in the contiguous United States, Hawaii, Canada, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

For more information, please contact the Belize Tourism Board at 227-2420 or via email at info@belizetourismboard.org.