BVI sees tourism boost in first half of 2025
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has reported a 13.8 per cent increase in tourist arrivals to the Virgin Islands for the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
“We just had our second quarter numbers, which came out, which are very good. And I’ll just give them quickly for persons. In the second quarter, overall, we had 211,093 tourist arrivals. That’s up 13.8% from last year, which was 185,558,” Dr Wheatley stated during a recent Virgin Islands Voice broadcast.
Breaking down the Q2 figures, he noted significant gains across most categories. “We have the day trippers at 5,865 versus 4,030 last year. So that’s a 45.5% increase on last year,” he said.
Overnight stays experienced a slight decline, with 84,339 visitors compared to 84,974 in 2024 — a decrease of less than one per cent. However, cruise passenger arrivals surged. “We had a 25.2% increase on last year with 120,889 cruise passengers versus 96,554 in 2024,” he reported.
For the first half of 2025, total tourist arrivals reached 707,418, representing a 3.6 per cent increase over the 683,114 recorded in the same period in 2024.
“Day trippers, we’re up from last year, 11,664 versus last year 7,653. That’s a 52.4% increase in our day trippers,” he stated. Overnight tourist arrivals also grew modestly: “191,089 tourist arrivals for overnight versus 185,293 tourist arrivals last year. And that’s an increase on our overnight numbers of 3.1% in the first half.”
Cruise arrivals also rose to 504,665 from 490,168 last year. Premier Wheatley also emphasised the economic importance of tourism.
“Tourism helps to support employment, support our entrepreneurs, and it provides us with tax revenue to do the things that we need to do for the community. So let’s all do our part to keep tourism going strongly,” he urged.
Tourism remains a key economic driver for the Virgin Islands, and officials say ongoing promotional efforts and partnerships with regional suppliers aim to keep the industry competitive.
Dr Wheatley is expected to provide further updates on the government’s tourism strategy during a press conference scheduled for Friday.
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AND WHEREAS the Premier in his capacity as Minister for Tourism has failed to produce a Tourism Plan to safeguard and enhance our tourism market share despite repeated calls to do so by industry stakeholders and Members of the Opposition.
AND WHEREAS Prospect Reef Hotel, an extremely valuable piece of Government owned real estate, remains in a dilapidated state with little details of the plans for its revival to enhance the tourism offerings of the Territory.
AND WHEREAS the Premier and Minister of Finance continues to squander public resources on matters that bring no financial returns to the people of Virgin Islands including; his non-stop party following the inaugural flight of American Airlines from Miami to Beef Island, the failed Virgin Islands Music Festival 2024, approximately $300,000 USD to sponsor the Vybz Kartel show, the constant international traveling by him and his colleagues compliments of the public’s purse with no results to show while other important initiatives remain unfunded or underfunded.
AND WHEREAS our citizens and visitors continue to suffer from the deplorable conditions of our public infrastructure (especially our roads, sewage and the lack of access to a reliable supply of potable water etc.) which the Premier and Minister of Finance continues to willfully disregard by not providing the necessary financial resources to address the issues despite repeated calls to do so by the public and Members of the Opposition.
AND WHEREAS our citizens and visitors continue to endure the filthy physical state of the Territory which lacks proper maintenance and upkeep as can be evidence in the overgrown bushes that now compromise the safety of motorist and pedestrians and the ever presence of garbage, derelict vehicles and sunken boats from the hurricanes from the 2017 etc. which continue to spoil the natural beauty of our islands without the proper intervention by the Premier and his Government.
Those cruise ship arrivals powering Romneys economy but little else.
So you never heard of the arrival tax each pax must pay to government?
That is where the money goes you fool, into government hands.
Oh joy an insult to advance you arguement. At least not a racist one.
Of course some goes to Govenment although where the money disappears to from there is not clear.
A quick search will reveal.
In Tortola, British Virgin Islands, cruise ship revenue is split between the Tortola Pier Park and the government.
Hope that does not make you feel too foolish.
Overnight visitors who spend money numbers down, cruise ship visitors numbers up, and our premier thinks thinke that this is good???
Overnight visitors bring in a lot more money, but their numbers won’t increase with so many cruise ship passengers coming here.
In the Virgin Islands, tourism is more than an industry — it is the heartbeat of our economy. It fuels livelihoods, supports entrepreneurs, and generates the tax revenue necessary to build our communities. Yet, despite this shared reliance, we continue to see divisive rhetoric aimed at separating one segment of tourism from another.
This must end.
Whether it’s cruise guests, overnight visitors, or day trippers — every visitor plays a role in keeping our economy afloat. Each group contributes differently, but meaningfully, to the success of thousands of small businesses, tour operators, restaurants, and service providers across the Territory.
The idea that one form of tourism is more valuable than another is not only counterproductive — it’s dangerous. It undermines the spirit of collaboration we need to grow and compete globally. The Virgin Islands cannot afford internal battles when what we need is a united front, working together to enhance the visitor experience, improve infrastructure, and strengthen our brand.
No single segment can carry the weight of our tourism product alone. But together, they create a sustainable and resilient economy.
It’s time we move forward with one voice and one vision: to uplift and improve the entire tourism ecosystem — not just parts of it. That’s how we secure a future of shared success for everyone.
#OneTourism #UnitedForTheVI #AllVisitorsWelcome
Are you thinking of like…. a tourism plan?….. Cos our tourism guy is missing in action. what a great idea.
Tie that in with a plan for the environment and it will quickly be clear we don’t need a VI trashng, environment trashing airport expansion to do well.
Of course nothing is going to stop that plan as the reports are in and a green light has been given to the green light that was already given without anyone ever having a real plan or reading a real report.
Why? Because the airport will bring big enough contracts to hide the money that will get passed out to politicians family and friends.
Great idea!! A plan!! We just need to hire a consultant first to recommend a report we can ignore and then right a plan without using the report and then invite more and more cruise ships as R* wants us to, as he gets to keep all the money, with a bit for Ministers to share around.
Mr. Premier…How about sending the illegal vendors that are crowding up and ruining the territories best beaches ‘PACKING’ like you promised to do? Get on it! Get all those ugly illegal shacks and chairs off the public beach so all locals and tourists can enjoy the natural beautiful beaches. Visitors who spend money don’t want to see this cruise ship mentality. They don’t want to come to a public beach to be harassed to rent a chair & umbrella. The locals that think they ‘own’ the beach should not be allowed to take charge of it. It is a public beach! For example…go down to CGB by the restrooms and you will see an illegal vendor selling food & alcohol pretending to be a real restaurant and bar who has chairs all down the beach everyday (not just on ship days). Gov is aware that this vendor is squatting on crown land on the beach. Those chairs should be taken up and put away when there is no ship to make the beach available for others to enjoy. There is not even a roof over this ‘so called’ restaurant and bar, since is considered a ‘vendor’ and not a legitimate restaurant. No proper health inspections as is considered a ‘vendor’ not a legitimate business serving food. No proper running water, no restrooms (using the Gov restrooms so our tax dollars), People getting sick eating there. How does Gov keep allowing this? A vendor who operates as a legal business and is supposed to be a temporary business that is not open every single day. There are plenty of legal and legitimate well run restaurants and bars in CGB who own their properties, pay taxes, keep clean and up to standards. Why let this squatter continue on? Because he born here? Where is the Beach Ordinance? Where is the Conservation team? Where is Gov? Get rid of this type of mentality and keep our beaches attractive and maybe you will see overnighters and charter guests coming back. It’s not the cruise ships causing a decline in over nighters and cruisers it’s the way Gov is handling the situation on hand and allowing squatters to take over the beaches. It could be a much nicer experience for all of us locals and visitors if the beaches were managed properly. Beaches are our assets. Nurture them immediately. Do not let another season go by without management of them. Invest in beautification. You say “Tourism helps to support employment, support our entrepreneurs, and it provides us with tax revenue to do the things that we need to do for the community. So let’s all do our part to keep tourism going strongly,”. How about you supporting legal businesses who actually pay taxes to the Gov and get rid of the rift raft that is spoiling it! NO CHAIRS or VENDORS on the beach if there is NO SHIP IN!
We could try treating our overnight visitors better. The first thing they are made to do is stand in line for immigration then pay some rip off tax on the grounds of “ environment “ for the pleasure of arriving here. Then they get to see the actual environment of rusting vehicles , wrecked boats and dangerous pot holed roads on which they are driven in our decrepit, overcrowded taxis charging rip off fares.
You think they don’t report that back?