BVI to host two-day tourism summit next week
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sustainable Development has announced the upcoming Tourism Summit, scheduled for January 16-17, 2025, at the Peter Island Resort.
In collaboration with the BVI Tourist Board and the BVI Yachting, Hotel, and Tourism Association (BVIYHTA), the summit aims to bring together key industry stakeholders to discuss and share ideas that will shape the future of tourism in the Virgin Islands.
The two-day event will feature panel discussions, breakout sessions, and presentations from both local and regional tourism experts. Critical topics to be addressed include the government’s role in tourism, “Visitor Management and Tourist Experiences,” and insights into global trends and best practices.
Director of Tourism Clive McCoy encouraged stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality sectors to participate, emphasising the importance of collaboration for the industry’s growth. Assistant Secretary to the Ministry Sasha Flax also highlighted the territory’s reliance on tourism.
“As a territory which relies on tourism, we understand the need to get inventive, hence the Tourism Summit,” Flax stated.
Junior Minister for Tourism Luce Hodge-Smith, who announced the event in December 2024, underscored its role in developing a forward-looking tourism strategy.
This initiative comes at a critical time for the BVI’s tourism sector. In November 2024, Fodor’s Travel included the territory in its ‘No List 2025,’ a list highlighting destinations facing challenges from tourism pressures. The publication expressed concerns over the BVI’s focus on cruise tourism, noting that cruise passengers accounted for approximately 72% of the 683,000 visitors in the first half of 2024.
The summit presents an opportunity for the BVI to address these challenges, foster sustainable growth, and enhance its appeal as a premier Caribbean destination.
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Doesn’t tourist season start in December?
Let’s all have it on an out of the way island for 98% of people that can attend and consume as much time as possible while doing so! Just this organization alone, shows the total lack of sensitivity to businesses wishing to attend and still run their day-to-day operations as the season gets started!
While I appreciate the desire to showcase Peter Island is important, it does little for the efficiency and/or attendance of this dog and pony show that will likely achieve nothing or tell us anything!
not holidays so have this summit on the WEEKEND of 18/19 or 25/26 Jan. How can these civil servants expect business stake holders to show up at a meeting on an out island during the work week???
It seems like government is always scheduling these various stakeholder events when the business persons are working in their business and don’t have time to entertain these clueless civil servants.
Great! Let’s keep this up