Can the BVI attract 2 million tourists next year?
The BVI could soon see a surge in tourism, with Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley outlining an ambitious goal to attract two million visitors in 2025.
Addressing the House of Assembly on a recent Schedule of Additional Provisions (SAP), Premier Wheatley underscored the government’s commitment to bolstering the territory’s tourism sector through strategic investments in infrastructure and events.
Premier Wheatley expressed optimism about the current trajectory of tourism, noting efforts to keep the industry buoyant during traditionally slow seasons.
“This year, we’re aiming to hit a million tourists, and next year we want more. Our goal should be to double it, to have two million tourists,” he stated, adding, “But in order to do that, we have to get aggressive.”
Plans to attract visitors
The Premier highlighted key initiatives to sustain visitor numbers, including reinvigorating the Cane Garden Bay Music Festival. He announced plans to restore the festival to its traditional dates, ensuring early promotion to draw more attendees during the summer months. “These events are designed to help support our tourism product and attract more persons to the Virgin Islands,” he said.
Infrastructure upgrades were also a central part of the Premier’s vision for tourism. Dr Wheatley revealed that funds from the recently signed $100 million loan facility would improve airports and ferry terminals.
“We’re going to be expanding the immigration and Customs area,” he explained. “Ever since we’ve had American Airlines flights from Miami, we’ve had a lot more visitors to the airport… and they’re making good money.”
The Premier also mentioned plans for the West End Ferry Terminal, slated to begin construction next year, which he described as “good news for the tourism product.
Balancing growth and concerns
Despite the bold targets, the push to increase tourist numbers comes amid concerns of over tourism in the territory. Earlier this month, the BVI made Fodor’s No List due to fears that the territory’s capacity to manage large numbers of visitors could harm the environment and strain local resources. However, Dr Wheatley’s comments suggest a focus on sustainable growth through strategic planning and enhanced visitor experiences.
Tourism remains a critical pillar of the BVI economy, and the Premier is confident that the government’s investments will yield significant returns. With expanded airport facilities, improved connectivity through new flights, and a packed calendar of events, the government is optimistic about surpassing the ambitious two-million-tourist mark.
“Our tourism product has been performing well, and by God’s grace and mercy, we’ll continue to see growth,” Dr Wheatley remarked. “Unity is strength. Divided we fall, but united we stand.”
As the territory works to meet its 2025 target, it remains to be seen how these plans will balance increased tourism with preserving the charm and natural beauty that have long drawn visitors to the BVI.
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This is absolutely pure horse spit! No way is it possible for tourism to double year over year unless there was a disaster the year before like Hurricanes or Covid. No country in the world gets more than maybe a 8-10% increase and that is usually because of a new hotel opening or some major attraction like Disney World. This guy and his advisors at the Tourist Board have shown that they are super clueless!
Music fest in it best year maybe had 6k people. That is a .0006% increase not a 100% increase! You think people are coming here because you fixed the roads and WE terminal like they should have been 10 years ago? The WE ferry terminal is an attraction that people are traveling to see?
What a load of crapola! There is zero real tangible plans to bolster tourism from this Minister of Tourism because he doesn’t know or understand tourism. Whoever gave him those words to speak should be fired! Just dumb!
Bolstering tourism is not about increasing the number of tourists but instead it is about increasing the spend of each tourist. You only increase the spend of each tourist by enhancing the tourist experience and attractions and amenities and accommodations.
St Barths only allows a specific number of tourists every year and are the cream of the crop destination in this region. They are not interested in increasing their tourism numbers. But all the billionaires go there year after year. We should learn something from St Barths.
No way are 2 million people coming to this dump.
YES THEY WILL, THE BUSSHY HILL SIDES, THE SWIMMING POOLS POT HOLES, WHAT OTHER ACTIVITIES DO WE OFFER OTHER THAN BEACHED AND SAILING…
Will the relevant stake holders address the issue of Carrying Capacity”.
A balance needs to be struck between the number of visitors coming in and the sustainability of the product being offered.
FODOR’S
The Cane Garden Bay Music Festival filled every hotel room, but only because the festival was responsible for housing all of the acts and their stage hands, paid for by the Government’s $250-300,000 support. The “tourist” numbers are skewed in that the majority of people were family and friends from USVI, staying with family because there wasn’t any available accommodation! Look at the audits of the Festival before you keep blowing smoke at us!!
Premier that all sounds great. But what about the rude immigration and customs staff at the sea and airports. There needs to be a better welcoming for visitors. Look at St. Thomas and San Juan.
Facts dem new and old immigration officers and customs very rude all them do be on phone and feel dem superior in new uniform and not doing dem job and know others who could done the job who they didn’t hire but as always who know who in the bvi and links.
Tola gone to the dogs no 2 million coming here next year.
https://www.fodors.com/news/news/fodors-no-list-2025?
we don’t even have a variety of food, all most all the restaurants have the same dam food.
I totally agree every single day, the same dam food.
No creativity, roti, pasta, fried food and very expensive.
Strategic planning? You keep using those words but you don’t know what they mean. There hasn’t been a fleshed out tourism plan in over 10 years and it shows.
Does the BVI electorate WANT to do this?
BVI is on an increasingly steep downward descent. Financial services is in terminal decline. Tourism is lowest common denominator and being criticized in lading global guides. Our government is inept. Our infrastructure has crumbled to zero. A judicial CoI found corruption. Our premier was arrested and jailed for narco traffiking. Serious, drug related crime is on the up. Anyone who cannot see that this country is finished is either dumb or total denial.
No one is doing anything about it. There is only one way this will end – Haiti 2. If you disagree, please detail what is the above is false. Advice – if you can, sell up and move on while you can.
sounds like an ex pat rustling up some scare tactics to get some property cheap so that when things swing up they are in the position to gain a handsome profit. hmmm def sus
The truth is most times hard to bear
re we kidding? nobody wants 2 million tourists.
Completely out to lunch. Has no idea. So depressing.
No. but the Nat will say we did.
Did he not see this headline “Tourism challenges land BVI on Fodor’s 2025 ‘No List’”
He sees this a progress, but everyone else knows it will be the death of sustainable, financially beneficial tourism in the VI.
2 million visitors is not what the VI needs.
2 million visitors will destroy the BVI 1 million already exceeds the infrastructure. No sane person wants this.
We must learn something from St. Barths. After-all, my first scholarship came from NYC via St. Barths to VG.
IIIIIIIIIIIIII don’t think so. The tourist will come but not 2 million. There is nothing really to bring in the tourist except the beach and Pier Park.
NOT AFTER FODOS PUT PEN TO PAPER FOR THE WORLD TO READ!!
LET THE NUMBER MAN PREMIER THAT OUT!
All tourists are not created equal. Cruise ship passengers and boaters who bring their own food are not going to spend as much as people staying in villas and hotels. It’s not that the former are not going to contribute anything, but it’s like the difference between those who buy a coach seat on a plane as opposed to first class passengers. It’s a world of difference.
In the real world a passenger getting off a cruise ship for a couple of hours does not qualify as a tourist arrival, does this man really believe that, or, is he taking the population for fools.
BVI need to hold a jackass festival. I can tell you who will be king of that.
He really need to stop using that bush.
99% of the above comments confirm what Sheila Hyndman prophesied 50 years ago.
They will come with tools and machines.
They will bring to light your secret places,
They will demand your mysteries.
They will destroy, build up.
They will dilute your treasures,
And rob you of your chastity.
They will adorn you like ancient Jezebel.
‘Till all that’s left of your true self
Will be an old and forgotten poem
Like mine.
But alas, you did not heed her warning.
https://youtu.be/aUb3nI3Nnkg
Roger Burnett
Progress is Provress, Development is development, we need an Airport extention is very necessary, another Cruise Pier, not complicated, Cruise is the Futurw bro, the next dock is easy as ABC, West of the existing one, 1500 ft West of the existing one. We have to give something up, nothing is for free, You jumo on a Taxi, you have pay, you jump on a plane you have to pay, Only China can get us where we want to go, we will have to pay, but we will get there and we will enjoy the fruits of our destination
You a foo k idiot
yes. powered by cruise ship passengers that per head cost and GT fee’s that’s not going to be used for the betterment of residents.
It would be easier if they weren’t treated like cattle to be fleeced.
Stand in endless lines, be barked at by the immigration attack dogs, be fleeced for $10 for some meaningless eco crap , be ripped off by the worlds shabbiest and most expensive taxis running on roads that the poorest country in Africa would be ashamed of and as you go be fleeced for another $20 to get out of the place.
Will it be restored to the best ones that were there previously or will it be a profit to only some? Everyone says they want the fest back like it used to be. All the beach. Not fenced in in front of Paradise only! Bring it back the right way! Especially if it is gov funded!
What do we offer tourist that they cannot find ellse where;
1. A vert RUDE , DISCOURTESY by our immigration officers at our port of entry
Their unwelcoming expression
Their hard tone of voice
Their stone wall faces
Their prejudical attitudev
2. The huge potholes
3. The unkept broken down unpainted houses and buildings along the bus routes
4. The bush people with private property lashing the safaris as they drive by
5. The scenic views they cannot see through the bushes
6. The garbage bins overflowing on the ground
7. The broken down buildings with derelict vehicles covered under very vines
Waiting in a hurry reactive building which has no
Place to shelter if it rains except in the toilets
Yes Mr Premiet we do have some picturesque scenes for the millions of tourist visiting our shores
I am in awe that a supposed intelligent individual would make such statements without relevant statistical information. How is a 2 million visitor number attainable? How many has the territory seen so far? What is the strategic plan that is in place to boost visitor presence, without depleting the nation’s resources? How many visitors have the various music festivals seen this year? What is it aboutvthe Cane Garden Bay music festival that will enhance visitor presence in the BVI? I want to hear an intelligent analysis.