Despite recent volcanic activity, Montserrat remains open for business and is welcoming visitors.

Despite recent volcanic activity, Montserrat remains open for business and is welcoming visitors. A partial dome collapse occurred at the Soufriere Hills Volcano on February 11th, 2010, sending a plume of smoke and volcanic ash up to 10 kilometers (six miles) high into the atmosphere.  There were also pyroclastic flows toward the abandoned airport in Trants, Tyers Ghaut and into the upper part of the Belham Valley.  All of these areas are currently in the out-of-bounds Exclusion Zone, however the island suffered only minimal ash fall in inhabited areas from this event.  Additionally, while the recent volcanic event disrupted flights in many neighbouring islands, the airport and ferry port on Montserrat remained open continually.  Furthermore, government offices, private businesses and tourism services have also been functioning normally.  In fact, day trippers from Antigua as well as stayover visitors continue to flock to the island to marvel at the volcano, its glowing dome and some of the natural attractions it has created, all from safe vantage points.  “Montserrat’s primary tourism attraction for the past 15 years when volcanic activity started has been our majestic Soufriere Hills Volcano,” said Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Reuben T. Meade.  “I want to reassure travellers that Montserrat is still easily accessible by both air and sea, and now is the time to come and visit us for the volcano show.  We have a very unique tourism attraction and we intend to continue to promote it to visitors.”  For updated information on volcanic activity go to the Montserrat Volcano Observatory’s website at www.mvo.ms

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