BVI’s infrastructure won’t accommodate ‘mass tourism’
The current state of the BVI’s infrastructure will not allow for mass tourism, Works Minister Kye Rymer has said.
While making that admission during a press conference held late last week, Rymer said he felt the BVI was more of a luxury destination.
“I’m not sure that we have spoken or agreed that we would invite mass tourism into our territory, and if that’s the case, definitely, our infrastructure would not be able to accommodate having mass tourism in terms of our road infrastructure at this juncture,” Rymer said.
The minister also pointed to the BVI’s water infrastructure which he admitted is also aging. He said officials are working to ensure the territory’s road network is brought up to par through the recent purchase of an asphalt plant.
Rymer also acknowledged that there have been setbacks since that purchase. He noted that at the time of the purchase, officials were unable to get the equipment commissioned because of the COVID-19 pandemic which prevented the company from entering the territory to perform installation services.
Since then, the minister said officials have put things in place with the equipment and have purchased a new paver, a new roller and various things to ensure that the territory’s infrastructure would be able to accommodate persons coming to the territory.
Meanwhile, in a prepared statement, Rymer said the BVI received some 700,000 cruise passengers in 2016 and earned an estimated $55 million – with an average passenger spend of $78 per passenger per day. The minister said this was based on research conducted by Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA).
Since then, the minister said the average passenger spend has increased to $107 per passenger and suggested that, with the same number of passengers arriving in the territory, the BVI will likely be looking at potentially earning $75 million from cruise tourism alone.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Why would we event want mass Tourism? Yes fix the roads and emergency services and sewerage and water but not for no mass Tourism. That is not what bvi is about. We are quality experience not quantity of tourists.
Hon Kye is right about the mass tourism and the woeful state of our infrastructure. But, the $78-107 spend by cruise tourism is absolutely fake news.
Hon Kye Rymer is right that the Virgin Islands infrastructure cannot accomodate mass tourism. The infrastructure as it stands now is not sufficiently accomodating the residents. I believe that the two main economic pillars are Financial Services and Tourism. We have nothing else to rely on. All our useries and foods are imported. So while Kye Rymer is talking piss about the territory being a luxury destination, he and his government should be addressing the woes that need attention to accomodate mass tourism. Luxury destination? Sewage running on the streets, roads in horrible condition, no 5 star or 1 star hotel accomodations. Kye Rymer you are the MCW stop the fake talk and get to work to improve our infrastructure. You all keep giving your Croonies big contracts to do the least important things. Time to prioritize and do the important things first, instead of what is best to line the pockets of government parasites.
Do you think that spending estimate is too low? Or too high? I would be surprised if the average cruise passenger spent that much. Some of them don’t even get off the boat and that brings the average down.
The BVI should be ashamed for electing such clueless people to run the Territory!! These guys talk pure s**t all f**king day and have done NOTHING. NOTHING. NOTHING!!!!!
The population itself is too mass! Please conduct a census.
No s**t Sherlock!
There have been several census events in the past. What did they do with the information. After Irmaria there was supposedly a project to look into “living conditions”. What happened to that? What happened to any of the information from previous census projects. The most that does is pay some extra money to census takers. After that the informations goes straight to the incinerator. Waste of our time and tax payer dollars on these things.
I thought BVI Love was kind of weak anyway….love “BVI Infrastructure not Ready”. That will get them tourists lined up!!
Someone please tell this fool to shut up!
WE ARE NOT A MASS TOURISM DESTINATION!!!!!
BVI set to make $75 million, most of it will go to ROMANSCO and the Romneys
I think you mean “were” known for quality of experience. Who wants to pay $10k to rent a boat and dodge criminals, corrupt police, and cruise ship passengers at every stop?