Montserrat, a British overseas territory, is joining the trend of island states attempting to attract remote workers to come and stay for a while.
The Covid-19 pandemic has given Montserrat a pass in comparison to the rest of the world. The volcanic eastern Caribbean island, a British overseas territory, has had negligible Covid rates, with fewer than 200 infections and only two deaths among its 5,000 Montserratians.
Montserrat’s government now wants to turn its success in containment into a tourist draw by offering a year-long digital nomad visa. Following a lockdown in 2021, its tourism-based economy is following the trend of island states attempting to attract remote workers to come and stay for a while as Covid persists elsewhere.
The Montserrat Remote Worker Stamp programme, which will be launched in April 2021, offers a “best of both worlds” approach that balances nature and connectivity, according to Rosetta West-Gerald, the program’s executive director. Montserrat’s new tourism director.
Longer term, she hopes the scheme will foster long-term relationships as well as a greater economic impact.
“We hope that beyond 2022, some of the remote workers will fall in love with the island and become homeowners or residential visitors,” West-Gerald said.
Why should I go now?
As Covid rates begin to fall around the world, the island’s allure has only grown. When it was first introduced last year, the visa stood out by requiring a minimum stay of two months rather than the maximum duration found in similar schemes. The two-month minimum was then eliminated in early 2022. Digital nomads can stay for a year or a week, depending on their needs.
That adaptability may stem from a desire to increase visits in any way possible. “[During the pandemic], the island’s closure had a significant impact on the economy,” said Clover Lea, owner of the Gingerbread Hill bed and breakfast in St Peter’s village. Her reservations were reduced by 80%.
Others are wary of the digital nomad scheme so far. “I’m not sure if the remote worker thing has had much of an effect,” said Margaret Wilson, owner of the hotel Olveston House. Nonetheless, she recognises the island’s allure, even if the plan is still in the works.
“Why should you go to Montserrat right now? Don’t ask me because I’m biassed “Wilson stated. “It’s paradise to me.”
Apart from pandemic-related changes, Montserrat’s appeal is rooted in history, which may be fading as other Caribbean islands undergo hyper-development and overtourism. It is best known for its famous friendliness, an enormous musical tradition, and pride in its Irish heritage.
Thousands of Irish Catholics fled persecution in Britain and colonial America in the 17th and 18th centuries, betting their futures on Montserrat’s export-focused – and slave-based – economy. Montserratians today take pride in their combined Irish and African ancestors. Montserrat is the only country outside of Ireland that has declared St. Patrick’s Day a national holiday. The festival, which also commemorates the anniversary of a slave rebellion in 1768, has become a focal point of Montserratian culture and identity.
The festival’s culinary highlights include Montserrat’s national dish, goat water (actually a stew). It’s a riff on Irish goat stew with a mix of old-world African spices like Scotch bonnet chilli powder – a reflection of the island’s combined African and Irish ancestors. Finished with a shot of rum from the New World. Because the recipe requires hours of simmering, goat water is usually reserved for special occasions.
In many ways, the island is still recovering from a more recent historical shock. The blasts from the Soufrière Hills volcano, which began in 1995, jolted the island’s southern half, covering it in ash and soot. Thousands of islanders fled to safety, with many settling in the United Kingdom. The island’s population is now half of what it was before the eruption.
This is the Caribbean like it used to be
But the same reality – the island’s sparse population – makes Montserrat a rare crowds-free Caribbean locale.
“This is the Caribbean like it used to be,” Lea said.
Travel with no trace
Montserrat’s sustainable tourism menu is extensive for such a small island. Visitors can hike up to Centre Hills, a forest reserve unaffected by the volcanic blasts, for cinematic views of the island and surrounding ocean. The British government announced plans in February for a £35 million “climate-resilient” port at Little Bay on the island’s northwestern side.
The Montserrat National Trust opened the EcoPlay Park, an outdoor space and learning centre within the island’s botanical garden, in October for families with children. There are playgrounds and a “orchid wall” that describes the endemic Monserrat orchid. EcoPlay “expresses who we are and where we live,” according to Yasmin Shariff, a project architect.
Montserrat’s diverse animal life may pique the interest of children of all ages. The Oriole Walkway trail, named after Montserrat’s national bird, is the most popular hike. Other exotic fauna to be found include the galliwasp, a species of lizard, and the “mountain chicken,” a frog whose name alludes to its size (among the world’s largest) and past use as a food source by Montserrat’s mountain populations.
The island will soon launch a tourist-focused environmental programme that will highlight its highland ecosystems, birdwatching, and volcano viewing. According to West-Gerald, the programme will allow visitors to learn about Montserrat’s full range of natural diversity.
Know before you go
The inter-island ferry service for Monserrat, nearby Antigua and Barbuda, and other islands has been suspended while many pandemic precautions remain in place. Travelers can fly to Antigua and then take a 15-minute flight to Montserrat. FlyMontserrat.com can arrange private charters.
Visitors who have been fully vaccinated are allowed to visit the island, but must quarantine for five days and pass a mandatory test before being allowed to leave. (Montserrat previously required a 10-day quarantine.)
Many hotels are offering reduced rates and additional services to help quarantined guests. Gingerbread Hill has started doing shopping, grocery shopping, and other errands for their guests. Similar services are provided by Olveston House, which was once owned by Beatles record producer George Martin.