BVI makes moves to fully revive yachting sector
Amid concerns that the BVI has lost some yachts to neighboring jurisdictions, local stakeholders are taking steps to recapture sailors as the global yachting sector continues to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A recent delegation from the territory sought to create waves of interest from prospective buyers and visitors at the Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) that took place in October.
The delegation had representatives from the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry (VISR), the BVI Tourist Board, and BVI Finance. The delegation said the BVI booth saw thousands of visitors each exhibition day.
Director of VISR John Samuel stated: “The BVI’s participation in FLIBS is important because it is the first post-COVID show of its kind, and it reminded the maritime industry that the BVI is open for business and the Virgin Islands is ready to serve.”
Samuel also explained the importance of the role of VISR and a collaborative approach to attending shows and networking events stating, “the collaborative aspect to the attendance of the shows allows all questions posed to be easily answered by each attending agency. It also helps with the creation of a strong team, with the ability to bring not only maritime but a larger variety of business to the BVI.”
The BVI’s yachting sector suffered major blows in COVID-19 as the government’s strict pandemic restrictions pushed cruisers to less restrictive countries in the Caribbean and other regions.
READ: Yacht cruisers speak! Here’s why they’re avoiding BVI
The extended border closure also caused some damage to the BVI’s reputation.
At that time, multiple local charter companies had sailed their boats to “bluer waters” in a bid to pick up business and stop the financial haemorrhaging.
BVI falling behind? USVI named fastest growing tourist destination
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Once again, the government works in a vacuum without the private sector. The results will be the same.
So, what is the plan? Do any of us voters or people of the BVI get to hear? Does the marine sector get any feedback or say so on what is being discussed or proposed to stakeholders?
Or does everything continue to operate in a vacuum with decisions made by those that think they know, but really don’t?
And yet him and his team continue to make it as difficult as possible for the yachting industry that is already here.
More free trips and pie in the sky bulls**t while the USVI continues to grow from strength to strength as it relates to tourism. We make ourselves feel good by saying we cater to high-end and we are not like USVI but lets keep it up. Look around at the BVI. Hardly any jobs, businesses struggling, everything in shambles, why? We do not have the volume of residents or tourists to patronize the businesses. It’s hard as hell to get here yet we have people touting this as a good thing. God alone can save us from these f**king loony tunes!
Government Official 1 had a huge part in wrecking the yachting industry and encouraging the go fast pick up boat industry.
What moves are these? Other than pumped up politicians blathering into mikes. Wishful thinking is not an action plan, hello.
I am afraid that a delegation comprising representatives from the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry (VISR), the BVI Tourist Board, and BVI Finance is unlikely to have assisted in generating business for the BVI. When will Govt learn that it is parasitic on the private sector and not a leader of the private sector.
Unfortunately, I am afraid that the representatives probably had a negative effect on persons perceptions of the BVI – do these representatives even own a boat between them here? What did they talk about? No doubt business class tickets up there and a five star hotel. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
The VIP killed the goose
If we are sending Shipping Registry, and Finance , to Boatshows, we have completely lost the plot. If BVI Govt wanted to help the yachting industry grow they would send sales people from the charter companies, yacht brokerages, and restaurants in the VI to promote in a relatable way to the potential customers. Not govt officials from irrelevant departments on paid holidays.
Just a quick note from a “yachtie” from off-island who kept my boat in BVI over the past many years. When we first brought our vessel to the island, we were welcomed with open arms and treated with respect by those in Customs and Immigration as we met with officials to request a stay in the territory past 30 days. Fast forward to now….well over the past few years we have had nothing but grief dealing with Customs and Immigration on this matter. Last year we had to make 3 trips to the Customs office in RoadTown regarding this matter; yet we had all of our documentation in place hte first and second trip. Not to mention the time it took to actually see an officer each time we reported to the office. Really there has to be something done about this process in order to entice yachts persons to come and stay within the territory and inturn spend tourist dollars on everything from groceries to boat repairs and fuel. If the government is not willing to give a service at Customs and Immigration without the hassel and grief and the attitude exhibited then the BVI government can spend all kinds of cash without getting any spash for it’s monies. Someone is not seeing the big picture and the elephant in the room.
What makes me laugh is that after every single overseas trip these senior officials and politicians come back with the same story. “We have lots of interest in the BVI……………”. Do you really think people are going to come to the BVI booth or meetings hosted by BVI and say “F**K OFF WE DONT LIKE BVI”….??? Of course not, they are going to say nice things, that’s how it works. Now where are the tangible results? Solid agreements? Real plans on moving forward? Airlines interested, boats interested yet 5 years after Irma and almost a hear after COVID and NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the other Caribbean Islands are making major moves to get their economies up and running while we sit here bragging about all the ‘interest’ there is in the BVI. LOL!
Why not not send Customs and Immigration too, and really do a good job of killing the industry?
All the other countries are doing the very same thing! Marketing and sales are just one part of the whole approach.
No Mr. Samuel, what’s keeping yachts out is the adversarial attitude that HM Customs has towards yachts, word gets out and folks leave the BVI a wise berth.
Couple that with the government red-tape mills at Labour, Customs and Shipping Registry and you have the roots of the problem:
The BVI’s amazing ability to bureaucratise things to death.
@Pandora…
A wee little bit of consolation. Kinda like saying “Good Morning” as you pass someone walking.
How we doing marketing and sales when we can’t even bring something to market? You know who knows about marketing and sales better than anyone else?: THE PRIVATE SECTOR!
Too little too late.Cast your eyes over to the. Neighboring USVI.
We Literally drove them away.
I am sorry to say, But the BVI don’t have a clue how important the marine industry is to our economy. None what’s so ever.
Want to fix the yachting and tourism sector? Here’s how you do it. All Ministers are placed in jail for a minimum of 1 year and up depending on the severity of their thievery. Second, institute UK rule so people will feel comfortable coming to the BVI. Third, every Belonger that has contact with a visitor must attend classes for 6 months on how to smile and act like a human being, even if they aren’t. Fourth, all those that are untrainable are put in positions where they only deal with other Belongers. Fifth, have all telecom companies either provide high speed internet everywhere in the Territory or their license to do business is revoked. Last, have white people run the tourism board since it’s whites that you are attempting to bring as tourists. This is just a start but you’re all too dumb to realize what you all are.
Please, please, please can those in government read and act on this feedback. We’re talking about the survival of a big element of one of our economic pillars.
Interesting! Funny enough every yacht industry stakeholder is talking about marketing & promotion but not mentioning the law that has not been enforced for many years and Gov’t has been lenient. Now that the law is being enforced everyone wants to cry fowl. All we need to do is have a “proper balance”.
Meanwhile, the Boat Show that actually does the most to actually bring high worth visitors to the BVI, the Tortola Boat Show, presented by the Charter Yacht Society to the charter brokers of the world, is having a successful edition right here!
Little does Custom’s know that their outrageous early morning raid of Nanny Cay , where they were waking up tourists with machine guns and dogs made the press and the blogs worldwide.
Hope wade is enjoying his days at home watching TV .
the date of the ‘successful’ morning raid of the yachts at Nanny Cay by the JTF of BVI Customs, Police and Immigration officers is the type of Remembrance Day event that sailors will never forget! Private yachts are gone from the BVI forever.
And add the blatant crime and general rudeness of persons in supermarkets, restaurants, as well as anyone working for the government. Oh and the overcharging for everything. Adds up to no more tourism in the BVI.
The damage the BVI shipping Registry and customs is beyond driving the Yachts to neighbouring islands. they have hiked fees for the Yachts so that there are hardly any small monohulls available to charter anymore in the BVI. The shipping Registry charge the same amount for a small 32ft monohull as a 52ft cat. the trouble is that they dont understand the market and how people want to initially come to experience the BVI on a small yacht which then leads them to invite friends for their next trip. Mr Samuel doesn’t discuss with the BVI industry how it works. He does it his way and is cl**less.
THis man is decent and worked in shipping in Canada. He is not yachting insider. We do yachting. Our shipping reg for big ships is irrelevant. It is bare boats and lux yachts. He is outsider. You put an old white guy running ur hair salon for local ladies ? No. Idiots. Are not good at all. ESP delivering good experience to white folk from states. So get some fkn white folk who know the industry you racist backward smug inepts. Curtain closed and y’all failed on years of acting. New cast needed!