Media giant New York Times and financial institution Capital One collaborated to film a short travel video in Anguilla this summer.
The crew visited for four days in August to capture scenes for a series promoting authentic and unforgettable experiences in popular destinations.
The project was discussed in the 27 September session of the Anguilla House of Assembly, where members looked at granting a customs duty concession for the production team.
Premier Ellis Webster, who also serves as finance minister, put forward a motion to waive the 1% customs duty on temporary imports of video equipment.
He told members the video will benefit Anguilla as “the number one tourist destination in the Caribbean” and help to present the island to the world.
The premier said similar exemptions have been made in the past for the Poker Run through the Financial Administration and Audit Act which allows for a waiver.
He asked members to “accept this for the intent it had” and said the benefits for Anguilla are “immeasurable and priceless”.
Free advertising
Haydn Hughes, Minister of Infrastructure, Communications, Utilities, Housing and Tourism, rose in support of the motion.
He said this is not the first time New York Times and Capital One have filmed in Anguilla, which he described as having become a “hotbed” of photo and video shoots.
A 2012 music video for US rapper Rick Ross and featuring Anguilla’s own reggae singer Bankie Banx led to “a significant amount of visitors” including Justin Bieber, the minister said.
Other productions filmed in Anguilla included episodes of the Real Housewives of Atlanta and The Bachelor, he told parliament.
“It is good whenever we can place Anguilla into the living rooms, in the office spaces of people across the world,” the minister said.
“These sort of photoshoots is, to my mind, free advertising, millions of dollars in advertising that we can benefit from.”
Hughes said he is fully in support of the motion, and hopes the island will have a lot more shoots, adding: “As many of them as we can do and can attract it’s good for Anguilla.”
Opposition member Cardigan Connor also rose to support the motion, saying that it is “vitally important” that the people are part of what the island sells.
“I would imagine the photo shoot would encompass Anguilla and Anguillians and what makes us special as a destination,” he said.
The premier, in his response, thanked the members and said their response shows that tourism in Anguilla is a bipartisan issue.
“Capital One and New York Times, we do know are well known, and therefore they give credibility when they want to come to Anguilla to show off our offerings,” he added.
All members voted unanimously for the motion and it was passed.
