MONTSERRAT TOURISM ARRIVAL NUMBERS INCREASED 22 PERCENT IN 2010
Total arrivals show steady growth the first seven months of last year
Brades, Montserrat – February 10, 2011 – Tourism business is booming in Montserrat and there are numbers to prove it. Figures recently released by the government’s statistics department show solid growth in the destination’s tourism arrivals for the first half of 2010. For the period January to July 2010, total arrivals grew by approximately 22 percent.
“We are very encouraged by these optimistic tourism numbers reported during this period of 2010,” commented the Director of Tourism for the Montserrat Tourism Board, Ernestine Cassell. “The return of ferry services from Antigua in December 2009, low volcanic activity from March 2010 and strong marketing efforts all help account for the increase in visitor numbers.”
A total of 4,863 visitors traveled to Montserrat for the first seven months of 2010, an overall increase of 866 visitors or 21.7 percent when compared to the same period in 2009. This comprised of 3,141 stay-over or overnight visitors, 1,029 day-trippers and 693 cruise passengers.
In addition, there was a 3 percent growth in the number of visitors staying in paid tourist accommodations, and an 11 percent increase in leisure travelers. Arrivals from the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Canada and Continental Europe also showed growth of 6.6 percent, 9.1 percent and 21.4 percent respectively.
“The MTB is committed to continuing its overseas promotional, public relations and advertising efforts, as well as its product development initiatives on the island in order to ensure further development of the tourism sector. We have an excellent tourism product to offer the discerning and adventurous traveler and that includes unique experiences, attractions such as volcano watching, a modern-day Pompeii, dark-sand deserted beaches, pristine reefs and waters, world class hiking, Irish heritage, high-quality but economical tourist accommodation and some of the friendliest people in the world,” noted Cassell.
About Montserrat
Montserrat, the only country outside of Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as a national holiday, is a lush green and mountainous island of approximately 39 square miles that lies in the Eastern Caribbean chain of islands. Known fondly as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean , this pear shaped island is a traveler’s paradise for nature lovers, divers, adventurers, family and villa vacationers, and honeymooners. This British overseas territory boasts the spectacular Soufrière Hills Volcano, a modern day Pompeii in the form of its buried former capital city Plymouth , alongside lush, green mountains, world class nature trails, deserted dark sand beaches, untouched reefs and a quiet friendly charm reminiscent of the way the Caribbean used to be. For more information on Montserrat and its breathtaking scenery and unspoiled, unpolluted coral and volcanic vistas, visit www.visitmontserrat.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2011
Contact: Nerissa Golden, Director of Information & Communications
Tel: (664) 491 3378 x 246 | FAX: (664) 491 6780 | Email: goldenn@gov.ms
#052/2011
Chief Minister Meade and Financial Secretary calls for gov’t ministries to curb spending
BRADES, Montserrat – February 9, 2011 – Citing a major shortfall in expected tax revenue, Chief Minister of Montserrat, the Honourable Reuben T. Meade and the Financial Secretary, the Honourable John Skerritt called for government departments to curb spending as the financial year comes to a close.
Speaking on the radio programme The People’s Show on Wednesday night, Chief Minister Meade gave an overview of the operations of government and how each area functions. He said the United Kingdom had met its obligations for the annual grants to Montserrat and that the expected tax revenue which was to cover the balance of the recurrent budget had not been raised.
The leader of government said it was unreasonable as suggested by Opposition member the Honourable Donaldson Romeo to expect that the UK government should cover Montserrat’s shortfall as they had kept their agreement. “If the UK is making a 25% cut and employing austerity measures how can we say to them we will do nothing to help ourselves?” Chief Minister Meade asked on air.
Finance Secretary John Skerritt said the option that the government is deploying is to issue a General Warrant requesting each ministry to adjust its programmes and budget to ensure that only the available monies are used. It is estimated that about nine million EC dollars must be collected by the end of March to cover government expenses for the final quarter of the budget year 2010/2011.
The chief minister called for public servants to work together and within their allocated budgets. He said it was important that Montserrat take the tough decisions themselves and not follow in the footsteps of other territories like Anguilla, where the British have had to send in a team to work out the budget and the measures necessary for running the island.
Chief Minister Meade added that every effort is being made to get the private sector growing, which in turn benefits the government.
ENDS
Regards,
Ms. Nerissa Golden
Director of Information & Communications
Office of the Chief Minister
PO Box
Brades, Montserrat, W.I.
Tel: 1-664-491-3378
Cell: 1-664-495-4420
Fax: 1-664-491-6780
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2011
Contact: Nerissa Golden, Director of Information & Communications
Tel: (664) 491 3378 x 246 | FAX: (664) 491 6780 | Email: goldenn@gov.ms
#053/2011
UK Secretary of State says no additional grant aid for Montserrat’s recurrent budget
BRADES, Montserrat (February 10, 2011) – “Montserrat must live within its means,” says the Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development of the United Kingdom, who was on a one-day visit to the island on Thursday.
Accompanying the UK official was Susan Wardell, DFID Director for SHMECOT (Security, Humanitarian, Middle East, Caribbean and Overseas Territories), Mr, Mitchell’s Assistant Private Secretary Amanda McLoughlin. Karen McGeough, DFID’s Programme Manager for Montserrat and Dr. Kato Kimbugwe, Private Sector Development Specialist for DFID coordinated the one-day trip along with the Office of the Chief Minister.
During the short visit, Mitchell held meetings at Olveston House with Chief Minister of Montserrat Hon. Reuben Meade, HE Governor Peter Waterworth, Financial Secretary Hon. John Skerritt, Minister of Communications & Works Hon. Charles Kirnon, Parliamentary Secretary Hon. Jermaine Wade, and Permanent Secretary Angela Greenaway. He also visited the Montserrat Volcano Observatory and took a helicopter tour of the Exclusion Zone to view the devastation caused by the Soufriere Hills Volcano. The tour ended in Little Bay where there was an onsite presentation from members of the project team working on the new town development at Little Bay.
The secretary of state said during a press conference that he was quite “moved” by his first hand look at the Exclusion Zone. Adding, the scale of the devastation is something that you have to see to really believe. However, he said his government was already providing more than 50% of Montserrat’s recurrent budget and were unwilling to increase the subsidy.
“It is the wrong approach to wait for the mother bird to bring food to the nest. What we want to see is a real partnership and see Montserrat begin to stand on its own two feet,” said Mitchell. “As a former banker I can acknowledge Montserrat’s successful past prior to the volcano. There are new opportunities that should be embraced and we want to move rapidly to a partnership approach, which will move the island forward to greater success.”
The secretary of state said he considered his government’s stance of no additional aid for the island as “absolutely fair” as it relates to the treatment given to the Overseas Territories. He said the UK Government has had to make extremely tough decisions to curtail its spending and expected Montserrat would do the same. “Tough decisions are never popular but in the end people will respect you for it.”
He commended Chief Minister Reuben Meade’s willingness to do just that and said his government embraced the vision of the Road Map and its request for the UK to assist in helping the island access development funds from other international donor agencies. “We will do every possible to support this request,” the Rt. Hon. Mitchell told the media.
The official said history has shown that the surest way to economic sustainability was not from receiving continued aid but for a vibrant private sector, which encourages trade and job creation.
The Government of Montserrat’s recurrent budget for 2010/2011 is EC $98,015,100, with UK grant subsidy of EC $52,920,000. An estimated $45,095,100 was to be raised from local tax revenue but the Ministry of Finance has said it still needs to raise about $9,000,000 to close out the financial year by March 31, 2011.
Chief Minister Meade has called for government departments to curb spending and prioritize programmes to utilise the available resources.
First Caption – Taken at Olveston House, Montserrat - DFID Director for SHMECOT Susan Wardell, and Chief Minister of Montserrat, Hon. Reuben T. Meade, UK Secretary of State for International Development, Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell, and HE Governor Peter Waterworth. (GIU Photo)
Assistant Private Secretary Amanda McLoughlin, UK Secretary of State for International Development, Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell, DFID Director for SHMECOT Susan Wardell, and Chief Minister of Montserrat, Hon. Reuben T. Meade following a helicopter tour of Montserrat’s Exclusion Zone. (GIU Photo)
