Tucked in the Eastern Caribbean Ocean is a flat, low-lying island known for its 33 immaculate white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, laid-back vibe and secluded spots, with many accessible by boat.
Anguilla is a tiny British Overseas Territory north of Saint Martin, part of the Leeward Islands, which blends African and British influences with a distinct local heritage.
Recognised by Travel and Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards as one of the top islands globally, Anguilla has since been inducted into Travel and Leisure’s Hall of Fame.
The Caribbean island saw a significant tourism boom in 2024, with more than 34million visitors, a six per cent increase from 2023.
And now, Anguilla has struck gold again thanks to the internet country code, which sits at the end of all its domestic web addresses
Anguilla has the internet domain .ai – which is in increasingly high demand as artificial intelligence booms globally.
Thanks to this, the small island is earning a fortune selling the address to tech firms.
‘One website address recently sold for $400,000 (£296,411),’ Jose Vanterpool, Anguilla’s technology minister, told The Telegraph.
Anguilla is a tiny British Overseas Territory north of Saint Martin. Anguilla Arch, a natural rock formation on the coast of Anguilla, is pictured
The Caribbean island has struck gold, thanks to its internet domain .ai – which is in increasingly high demand as artificial intelligence booms globally
‘Some weeks we had over 10,000 sign-ups,’ he added. ‘The revenue from last year is projected to be as high as £141 million [$189m], and AI-derived income now accounts for about 47 per cent of the national budget.’
This has helped fund significant improvements to island life, including reduced taxes, better roads and street lights and free healthcare for the under-fives and over-70s.
According to GoDaddy, ‘.ai domains are highly relevant for businesses in the artificial intelligence and technology industries,’ and ‘having a .ai domain can help establish credibility and expertise in the field of AI’.
It’s not the only time a Pacific Island has lucked out in the domain name lottery.
In the late ’90s, the Polynesian island nation Tuvalu was assigned the valuable country code top-level domain .tv.
Meanwhile, Micronesia’s internet domain is .fm, which is popular with radio stations and podcasts.
Anguilla was recently voted the safest island in the Caribbean thanks to its low crime rates.
In the latest Global Peace Index, countries, islands and territories were assessed and ranked on safety factors like crime activity, safety and policing expenses and political stability.
The island is a popular destination for activities such as coral diving and water sports
Aside from Anguilla, Barbados, St. Barthélemy, Martinique, and the Cayman Islands are among the top five safest Caribbean destinations.
The self-governing territory is also renowned for its golf offerings, which include a Greg Norman-designed golf course located on the island.
Crowned the Caribbean’s ‘Culinary Capital’ by the World Travel Awards, Anguilla boasts a vibrant food scene, from upscale fine dining to colourful local eats, making it a top destination for foodies.
At world-class restaurants and rustic beach shacks across the island, diners can indulge in specialities like grilled lobster, saltfish, conch, curried goat and Johnny Cakes.
On its website, Anguilla’s tourism board shares: ‘On this island, really delectable food is part of the culture, identity, and day-to-day life.’
