BVI should fix its tourism corridors — Flax-Brutus
Former BVI Tourist Board Director Sharon Flax-Brutus has called on the government to prioritise enhancing the territory’s key tourism access points to improve the overall visitor experience.
Speaking on the Talking Points radio show on October 7, Flax-Brutus highlighted several shortcomings in the current state of the BVI’s tourism infrastructure. Flax-Brutus, now a tourism experience curator, expressed concerns about the BVI’s arrival experience at various ports of entry. She said that while improvements have been made at the airport, the situation at the ferry terminals remains substandard.
“I believe that we treat the bags as the VIPs rather than the guests and the residents getting off the boat,” Flax-Brutus said while recalling a recent experience she had travelling through one of the territory’s local ports.
Flax-Brutus urged the government to take immediate steps to address these issues, particularly by fixing the main tourism corridors.
“Fix the corridor from Beef Island to West End. Fix the main corridor to Cane Garden Bay and Long Bay. Fix the corridor from The Baths to the ferry dock and the main road in North Sound,” she said. According to Flax-Brutus, such improvements would give visitors the impression that they are truly experiencing a top-tier destination.
Flax-Brutus also discussed the need for sustainable tourism development, warning that the territory cannot be “everything to everybody.”
We need to be concerned about tourism sustainability
She pointed out the importance of balancing the growth of water-based tourism, like yachting and cruise ship arrivals, with the land-based sector, which includes overnight stays in hotels and villas. “We really need to be concerned about the sustainability of tourism and the sustainability of our product,” she stressed.
The former Director of Tourism emphasised that enhancing the infrastructure is not just about aesthetics but also about maintaining the BVI’s reputation as a luxury destination. She noted that visitors who are promised tranquillity and exclusivity often encounter overcrowded beaches and inadequate facilities.
“You pack the persons into this ‘un-air-conditioned’ space… They have to drag their own bag up the dock. That’s not luxury,” she said, referring to the experience on Virgin Gorda.
Flax-Brutus also highlighted the need for better coordination between government agencies regarding tourism development. She criticised the lack of synergy between departments, which often delays addressing critical infrastructure needs.
“You can’t have the Ministry of Tourism with a tourism focus wanting tourism things, and then there’s a ship in town, and the Ministry of Communication and Works goes out and digs up the road in the middle of town,” she said.
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Thanks, SFB, well said…. we listening but we aint hearing you as all of us are so, so, so tired of this government, we just counting down to 2027 because as you know
1. the gov doing just enough to keep the order in council off our backs but not enough to get it removed, so england aint going take over
2. the no confidence motion aint going nowhere because the 2 against the vibe cartel aint jumping ship.
3. we are a peaceful people so we aint going overthrow the govt.
if people want luxury let them pay for it. They can hire a private boat to bring them to VG , they can also be picked up in a lovely VIP car/SUV and taken to their villa or even hire a helicopter , if they want luxury let them pay for it. Like everyone else does everywhere else in the world, perhaps if she travlled to some other truly beautiful destinations outside first world countries she would understand this.
exactly thats like going to a high end resort in the maldives and taking the public ferries which are primarily for locals lol. most resorts force you to arrive via private boat as part of your travel itinerary which is an extra hidden cost.
I appreciate the shift in tone. Disagreement doesn’t have to mean being disagreeable. The constant focus on political fights is overrated. What really matters—and what requires real skill—is the ability to influence and get things done without unnecessary conflict. That’s where true leadership comes in.Particulary in a small Territory where it is essential that we all get along.
The BVI is NOT a luxury tourist destination. The BVI is only an average middle class destination that charges luxury fees then provides average services.
BVI tourists simply don’t receive good value for their money spent here so they visit other islands instead.
oil nut bay, guana and moskito are high end luxury experiences in addition to the 500k a week yacht charters
Somebody is eyeing a consultancy. Watch
Stop being small minded. Not every thing a person says or does is intended to derive some ultimate benefit.
Why to you assume that the former Tourist Board Director is only speaking out to gain something financially from doing so?
Is it possible that given her past experience with the Tourist Board that she understand the issues and she has a unique insight relative to what the issues are and what can be done to address them?
May I suggest to you that the person in question appears to be living her best life Tourist Board Director job or not.
It’s cynical comments like yours that precludes good people from speaking up and getting involved. Open your mind…WIDE.
gosh shut up tourism this tourism that. how about do something for the benefit of the public.