October 27, 2021 - The captivating Caribbean Island of Anguilla has been named one of the must-visit destinations in the world for 2022 by global travel authority, Lonely Planet. 

This is the first time that Anguilla has featured in the annual Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel, a collection of the world’s hottest destinations and must-have travel experiences for the year ahead. Anguilla is the only Caribbean country to have been recognised in the Top 10 Countriescategory.

“We are delighted to have been named one of the top 10 countries in the world that travellers should visit in 2022,” said Mr. Haydn Hughes, The Hon. Minister of Tourism for Anguilla. "Community is at the heart of Anguilla and tourism is a crucial part of our economy and way of life. We love to share our beautiful island with travellers from all over the world and we recognise that, in order to continue to do that, we must ensure that our offerings are sustainable. 

“It’s wonderful to receive recognition, from the experts at Lonely Planet, of Anguilla’s commitment to sustainability and of our readiness to bring tourists back safely, as we re-open for the new season.”

“Anguilla offers an amazing combination of truly spectacular beaches, fabulous cuisine, stunning resorts and villas, amazing people and genuine hospitality, so it’s no surprise that the judges at Lonely Planet are excited about our destination. We look forward to welcoming our returning guests as well as new visitors who have been inspired by Lonely Planet to put Anguilla at the top of their travel agenda for 2022,” he continued.

Lonely Planet’s annual Best in Travel “hot list” chooses destinations for their topicality, unique experiences, ‘wow’ factor and ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism practices. The selection process starts with nominations from Lonely Planet’s vast community of staff, writers, bloggers and publishing partners. The nominations are then whittled down by a panel of travel experts to just 10 countries, 10 regions and 10 cities. The list is compiled by Lonely Planet’s editorial team, independent of any commercial influence.

Best in Travel 2022, which is Lonely Planet’s 17^th annual collection, placed a particular emphasis on the best sustainable travel experiences — ensuring travellers will have a positive impact wherever they choose to go.

Tom Hall, Lonely Planet’s VP of Experience, added: “We are delighted to welcome Anguilla to the Best in Travel list for the first time, voted as one of the best countries to visit in 2022 thanks to its in-harmony with-the-ecosystem approach to tourism which has put it at the cutting edge of the future of travel. In recent years, the community has been making strides in its commitment towards becoming a more sustainable destination, with impressive initiatives including phasing out single-use plastics, incentivising renewable energy projects and establishing a hurricane-resistant greenhouse to provide the island with secure, locally grown food. Now the stunning island offers a more relaxed, greener, slower-paced travel experience.”

The British Overseas Territory of Anguilla’s turquoise waters, pristine white sand beaches and exquisite hotels, resorts and villas are accessible to fully vaccinated guests. Testing procedures for all visitors to Anguilla are in place and the requirements are being reviewed every two weeks. Full details of entry requirements are detailed at ivisitanguilla.com. 

Anguillians are known for their close relationship with the land and ocean. The green and blue economy is a key area of development for Anguilla as it works to create and maintain a healthy and sustainable balance between the people and their environment. Initiatives are underway to reduce environmental risk and ecological scarcity including land-based and water management, renewable energy and sustainable transport. The island also has a highly active national trust that runs marine, coastal and terrestrial conservation projects to protect the island’s natural capital and improve biodiversity. 

Island tourism partners are encouraged to prioritise ecological advances in any new development, such as the solar energy panels installed at Aurora Anguilla resort, alongside a hydroponic farm to facilitate production of fresh fruit and vegetables with minimal food miles. 

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2022 - Destination Top 10s