Tourism - ZJB Radio

Tourism Sector Shows Continued Growth Following COVID-19 Decline

The tourism sector continues to show signs of recovery, post pandemic. Parliamentary Secretary Crenston Buffonge, made this assessment in his response to the budget on Tuesday. He revealed the the sector earned in excess of 26 million dollars, from just 14, 000 visitors in 2025, the best performance since the pre-pandemic period. 20, 976 visitors came to the island in 2019, the highest number in more than a decade. That figure dipped to just 1,597 visitors during the Covid-19 lockdown period in 2021 when the island’s borders were closed.

Tourism Sector Shows Continued Growth Following COVID-19 Decline Read More »

Montserrat Participates in Seatrade Cruise Global 2026

News, Tourism

Montserrat participated in Seatrade Cruise Global 2026, the largest and most influential global gathering of cruise industry professionals. The event was held from April 13–16 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Chair of the Board of Directors of the Montserrat Tourism Authority (MTA), Roselyn Cassell Sealy, and Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Premier, Camille Thomas Gerald represented the island at this prestigious event. An MTA press release states that their participation underscores the Government of Montserrat’s commitment to strengthening the island’s presence within the international cruise sector. According to the release, through engagement with key industry stakeholders, Montserrat aims to forge strategic partnerships, gain valuable insights into emerging cruise trends, and benchmark against global standards. It adds that these efforts are critical to enhancing the island’s visibility and positioning Montserrat as a unique and attractive destination within the Caribbean cruise market. The MTA and the Office of the Premier- Montserrat say they welcome the opportunity to participate in the iconic event. They believe the connections made, insights gained, and standards observed will play a vital role in shaping future strategies for the growth and sustainability of Montserrat’s tourism industry.

Montserrat Participates in Seatrade Cruise Global 2026 Read More »

Montserrat’s Leader Of Government Business Reveals That Efforts To Secure A Ferry Service Will Restart Soon.

Government, News, Tourism

The tendering process for a ferry service restarts next month. This is according to Montserrat’s premier, Hon. Reuben T. Meade, who was speaking at a Town Hall meeting on Thursday. In giving an update on Montserrat’s access situation, the premier noted the challenges faced in procuring a ferry service over the past few months. Speaking about the upcoming tendering process, Premier Meade said this would be a sub-regional ferry service, providing access to islands other than Antigua. “One of the things with transportation this last period is that the entire galaxy collided. We were getting a vessel out of Venezuela, and just about when we were ready to get it out, we had the issue with Venezuela…..So we’re going back out to tender next month. We’re doing it very, very early, so that we can get the kinks out of the procurement process. The funding is already approved for it, and we will be working very hard towards getting some form of ferry.” Premier Meade says the ferry will provide a regional service but the principal route would be Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Antigua.

Montserrat’s Leader Of Government Business Reveals That Efforts To Secure A Ferry Service Will Restart Soon. Read More »

An Expected Fillip For Montserrat Access Situation As SVG Air Twin Otter To Resume Service

News, Tourism

SVG Air’s Twin Otter aircraft will resume service to Montserrat at the end of this month. This announcement from founder and CEO of SVG Air, Paul Gravel. Speaking on the “What’s on Your Mind” radio Programme Tuesday morning, Mr Gravel explained the challenges faced which affected their service to Montserrat. He said a main challenge was a delay in corrosion repair on the Twin otter Aircraft. “Well, the Twin Otter, that is going to be back at the end of this month, it has had some major delays because we had to remove the wing and repair corrosion internally. And to do that, you have to remove 4,000 rivets, take the wing apart, replace a lot of the longer arms and spars in the wing. Gravel says a shortage of rivets has compounded the problem. “The company that makes the rivets burnt to the ground in February of 2025. So there’s a worldwide rivet shortage. And the manufacturer of the wing is flying all over the world, repairing wings for the same problems we have, which is corrosion because the Twin Otters primarily used in saltwater conditions….. he’s very busy and he’s the only one that can do the final repair on the aircraft. So we’ve been waiting for him for two months. So it’s, it’s been very challenging. It’s been a very expensive exercise. We’ve, we’re about a million dollars into it so far. By the end of this month, it should be parked in Antigua to start back our service to Montserrat.” Mr Gravel also notes SVG Air’s current lack of Islander pilots. He said pilots are currently being trained, but explains that challenges are being encountered in the licensing process.

An Expected Fillip For Montserrat Access Situation As SVG Air Twin Otter To Resume Service Read More »

Government of Montserrat Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries Conduct Site Visit to Belham Valley Bridge and Isles Bay Beach Road

Government, News, Tourism

by Jenzil Skerritt, Press Secretary Montserrat – The Government of Montserrat on January 8 2026, undertook a ministerial site visit to the recently excavated Belham Valley Bridge and the re-established Isles Bay Beach Road, marking another important step in the island’s ongoing programme of infrastructure rehabilitation and resilience building. The site visit was led by the Premier of Montserrat and Minister of Finance, Hon. Reuben T. Meade, and included the Minister of Buildings, Utilities, Infrastructure, Labour & Transport Hon. Veronica Dorsette Hector; Minister of Agriculture, Housing, Lands, the Environment, Youth and Sports, Hon. John Osborne; Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Housing, Lands, the Environment, Youth and Sports (MAHLEYAS), Hon. Dwayne Hixon; and Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Premier, Hon. Crenston C. Buffonge. The visit provided Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries with an opportunity to assess first-hand the progress and outcomes of works at both strategic locations. The Belham Valley Bridge, a critical crossing affected by years of volcanic activity and sedimentation, has been excavated, improving connectivity and access for residents, businesses, and emergency services. Similarly, the Isles Bay Beach Road restores access to an important coastal area, supporting community use, tourism activity, and future development opportunities. Premier Meade noted that the works form part of Government’s broader commitment to strengthening national infrastructure while improving safety, accessibility, and economic resilience. He emphasized that sustained investment in roads, bridges, and supporting infrastructure remains a priority for national development. Minister Dorsette Hector highlighted the technical and logistical efforts required to execute works in challenging environments, noting that careful planning and inter-agency coordination are key to delivering durable and climate-resilient infrastructure. The Government of Montserrat continues to advance strategic infrastructure projects aimed at improving quality of life, supporting economic growth, and enhancing resilience across the island. Further updates on ongoing and upcoming works will be shared with the public as projects progress.

Government of Montserrat Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries Conduct Site Visit to Belham Valley Bridge and Isles Bay Beach Road Read More »

Montserrat Tourism Authority Encourages Visits to St. Georges Hill Fort

News, Tourism

Marketing Development Officer at the Montserrat Tourism Authority Cherise Aymer is encouraging people from around the Caribbean and further afield to experience Montserrat’s newest tourism offering – the St. Georges Hill Fort. The fort, has been closed for nearly three decades. With access roads, Ms. Aymer says the site, which offers panoramic views of the buried capital of Plymouth and the Soufrière Hills volcano, is an exciting addition to Montserrat’s tourist sites. Ms. Aymer , as well as Marketing Officer at the Montserrat Arts Council Jayesh Sadhwani, were undertaking a series of media engagements in Antigua ahead of Montserrat’s Carnival season.

Montserrat Tourism Authority Encourages Visits to St. Georges Hill Fort Read More »

Montserrat Focuses on Improving Standards to Boost Tourism Offerings

News, Tourism

As Montserrat continues to boost its tourism offerings, more attention is being focused on improving standards. Parliamentary Secretary Hon. Crenston Buffonge says for this reason, the Tourism Authority has trained 46 public and private sector workers in customer service, and conducted tour and taxi training to strengthen their service delivery. This is the continuation of a process of developing the island’s tourism standards to ensure quality assurance across the board. He says the training is not limited to food and beverage, or the accommodation sectors, but also the quality of Montserrat’s cultural events and the conditions of tourism sites across the country. The Tourism Authority is also stepping up its marketing and promotion efforts. As a result, its marketing reach has expanded significantly, including on Facebook, which alone, has achieved 4.6 million views and 213,000 reach. The MTA has also partnered with major media outlets, including Mail Online in the UK, The Saturday Times, and publications across Canada and the United States. Looking ahead, the Parliamentary Secretary says they are launching new promotional videos highlighting St. Patrick’s Festival, and expanding its social media campaigns for Carnival 2025. Other initiatives are the Volcano Heritage Trail, and a collaboration with the Montserrat Volcano Observatory and the Montserrat National Trust in establishing the UNESCO Global and Geoparks initiatives. The MTA is also working with the Department of Environment on the Protect, Preserve and Prosper campaigns, including youth tree planting and beach cleanups across the country. Having established the natural tourism products, Mr. Buffonge says the focus now must be the introduction of man-made attractions that complements, not take away from, these national assets. In this vein, he announced plans for a forest zip-lines and a beach-side turtle hatchery, which would allow tourists to be a part of Montserrat’s conservation drive.

Montserrat Focuses on Improving Standards to Boost Tourism Offerings Read More »