BVI could’ve lost over $10M if govt’ didn’t act to resume cruises
The BVI may have lost well in excess of $10 million in revenue if the decision had not been made to confirm a resumption of cruise ship passengers to the territory for the upcoming season.
This was the view shared by the territory’s Premier and Tourism Minister, Andrew Fahie who explained that cruise lines make decisions years in advance about their cruise calls.
Speaking at a press conference last Friday, September 3, Premier Fahie said: “If we missed this season in terms of this year by not solving [the cruise issue], we would have automatically missed the scheduling of the cruise ship for next season [2022] and we would have seen and realised, you know, probably over $10 million worth of revenue coming to the ports that would have been lost.”
The Premier described the estimated figure as “very conservative” while noting that the BVI government would have had to ‘pick up the tab’ if the territory had missed the upcoming season.
Bubble initiative for cruise tourists only
Speaking about the bubble initiative implemented for incoming cruise passengers and local industry stakeholders to help mitigate against the spread of COVID-19, Premier Fahie said there will be a log of local bubble participants and these persons will be tested every two weeks.
Importantly, Premier Fahie said the bubble initiative did not apply to other vaccinated visitors who enter through other local ports of entry.
“[Other tourists] have a totally different protocol in that they don’t have a bubble, once they come in and they’re vaccinated. When you do the rapid test and you’re negative, you go free. Where you go is not dictated to you,” the Premier revealed.
Persons involved in the bubble, the Premier further explained, will be allowed to go to specified points. He said this will help to reduce persons’ movements in the territory and also assist with contact tracing efforts where the need arises.
No closed beaches in bubble
Meanwhile, the Premier insisted that there will be no beaches designated for cruise tourists only, nor will there be any beaches ‘closed off’. He said this is contrary to a misconception being peddled by some persons.
“Oh, definitely not. We’re not closing any beaches. The bubble will not involve that at all. Whenever persons hear bubble, they think closed beach,” Premier Fahie said
He added that the bubble requires some level of organisation to ensure that locals are not disenfranchised, but are instead kept safe with the goal of pushing the economy into overdrive at the same time.
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Father time bring wisdom lets get it miving
Wasn’t it this same regime who said “health over wealth”?..How quick we forget
The difference now is that we have a significant number of residents vaccinated (although not enough), so now we have to move on with opening up the borders. If the BVI loses tourism, then taxes will have to go up and nobody wants that!
These disease spreading cruise ships gonna put all our lives in jeopardy. MORE DEATHS FORECASTED
You do know that 100% of people die, don’t you?
So the VIP prefer to kill us all for a few bucks
10M? Don’t make me laugh. Speak of the House blows that on a regular in legal fees alone.
Premier promised 4 cruise ships in July and only 1 showed up. Now he’s promising $10million in revenue from cruise ships for the 2021-22 season. This man is del******l.
THE BVI could have avoided losing at least $10M if it listened to its stakeholders and fixed the portal last year. Blocking out foreign charter yachts has lost even more and has nothing to do with COVID-19. Our businesses, our economy, and our community are suffering for our politicians’ egos.
Whose fooling who…was a MOU entered into earlier?
Its also very sad that a social war has emerged against the unvaccinated. Unvaccinated who are negative should be allowed the same priviledge as the vaccinated who are negative. It has been scientifically proven that both the vaccinated and unvaccinated can contract and transmit the virus.
Please don’t continue to get it twisted..the purpose of the vaccine is to significantly reduce the chances of serious illness,hospitalization,death and the spread of the covid 19 virus worldwide..be a part of the solution..
The pandemic continues in full bloom unless we can come up with an effective alternative course of action…in lieu of vaccinations..
Not at the same rate for sure..please complete your research/statement..
Where does that $10milluon go? How much of that is given to former government officials? Wouldn’t it be great if we could use this money to rebuild our schools?
So we should now understand why Marlon would have agreed to REPURPOSE $8M from sewer project to TPP – to avoid loosing $10M (being conservative). Territorial savings $2M. Make plenty sense. And did we notice that the eight district approved – they reelected him!!! Country before self. So please stop singing that silly $8M song as it gets no political milage.
Prepare for another virus surge and another shutdown.
If we aren’t fully vaccinated, then more will die.
Can we now move it along with charter yachts entering the territory now?
The Premier and his team are doing a good job.