Montserrat experiences significant tourism growth

One of the Caribbean’s most impoverished nations is experiencing significant tourism growth. Visitor arrivals in Montserrat rose 14 percent year-over-year in 2019, and this was a record after the 1995 eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that shipments exceeded 20,000 tourists.

Monserrat hosted 20,956 visitors in 2019 after embracing 18,338 in 2018. The nation’s tourism growth was drastically driven by a 59 percent increase in cruise ship visits, complemented by a two percent raise in land-based, overnight arrivals.

Caribbean people represented Montserrat’s largest visitor market, and it stood for 19 percent of overnight visitors to the country. Travelers from the United Kingdom also accounted for 13.4 percent of visitors in 2019, while U.S.-based visitors dropped 12.6 percent of Montserrat visitors than last year.

“We’re ecstatic we’ve been able to surpass 20,000 visitors,” said Warren Solomon, Montserrat’s in charge of tourism.

“It tells us we’re doing good and are on the right track with our marketing initiatives, and if we are able to be regularly consistent in our hospitality, we could maintain the growth trend.”

Solomon stated Joseph Farrell, Montserrat’s prime minister and director of tourism, is currently operating with the office of the island's premier “to secure additional funding to do better marketing to increase stay-over visitors.”