Anguilla pushes deeper into luxury yacht charters

Anguilla is courting more superyacht and charter business after meetings at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, as the island prepares new marina and port upgrades. The effort is part of a broader push to turn luxury maritime traffic into more spending for local tourism businesses.

Why it matters: - Anguilla wants a bigger share of the Caribbean’s luxury yacht charter market as new maritime infrastructure moves forward. - The strategy could bring more superyacht calls, more charter itineraries and more on-island spending from high-end visitors. - The island is trying to convert marina and port development into broader gains for tourism, restaurants, transport providers and other local businesses.

What happened: - Anguilla Tourist Board officials met with industry representatives at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show from Oct. 28-Nov. 1. - Jameel Rochester, director of tourism, and Keri Rogers, manager of destination experience, represented Anguilla at the show. - Discussions included Fraser Yachts, BOAT International and other superyacht and charter industry representatives. - The meetings focused on itinerary opportunities and ways to strengthen Anguilla’s appeal to luxury maritime travelers. - The outreach followed the Anguilla Tourist Board’s participation in the Monaco Yacht Show in September.

The details: - Construction is advancing at Port Nimara, a luxury waterfront development that includes Anguilla’s first dedicated superyacht marina. - Port Nimara also includes a planned Equinox resort, branded residences, oceanfront villas and a private yacht club. - The marina is expected to open in 2027. - The new marina is designed to expand Anguilla’s capacity to host superyachts and charter vessels. - The additional capacity is expected to create more opportunities for visitor spending across the island’s tourism economy. - The Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority’s development plans for Road Bay aim to improve facilities for small- and medium-size luxury cruise vessels and the wider yachting sector. - Government airport development plans are intended to improve connectivity and passenger facilities. - Earlier this year, the Anguilla Tourist Board worked with YATCO and Port Nimara at the Palm Beach International Boat Show to promote the island’s marina plans. - Anguilla recently won Caribbean’s Leading Luxury Island Destination and Caribbean’s Leading Culinary Destination at the 2026 World Travel Awards. - The official Anguilla Tourist Board website is IvisitAnguilla.com.

Between the lines: - Anguilla is not treating yacht marketing as a one-off sales effort. - The island is building a yearlong pipeline of industry relationships across Palm Beach, Cruise360, Monaco and Fort Lauderdale. - Rochester framed the push as a deliberate attempt to position Anguilla as a preferred Caribbean luxury cruising destination. - Rogers said the board wants maritime growth to translate into visible benefits for local communities and businesses.

What's next: - Port Nimara’s marina is slated to open in 2027. - The tourism board is likely to keep pressing yacht owners, charter firms and cruise operators as the island’s infrastructure expands. - Road Bay and airport development plans could further improve Anguilla’s access for luxury maritime visitors. - The next test is whether industry interest turns into more bookings, more arrivals and more local spending.

The bottom line: - Anguilla is pairing luxury branding with concrete port and marina investments to win a larger role in the Caribbean yacht economy.