BVI News

COVID-19 pushes more local hospitality businesses to join BVI Staycation programme

By Kamal Haynes, BVI News Staff

The BVI Tourist Board has seen a considerable increase in the number of local tourism-based businesses that participate in its annual Staycation programme that invites BVI residents to vacation in the territory at discounted prices. 

Regional Marketing Manager of the Tourist Board, RaeNisia Scatliffe told BVI News that the initiative has generated more interest this year because of COVID-19.

A total of 20 local hospitality businesses participated last year. “To date, we have about 30 industry partners that are part of the programme,” Scatliffe reported. 

“Even before we launched, we had seen persons express interest in vacation … We have been through a lot this year. We have been on lockdown for such a long time and the programme provides a sense of relief, a breath of fresh air being able to explore safely in your own backyard by taking advantage of the different adventures that we have,” she added.

Residents taking advantage

This year’s Staycation programme was launched in June; one month later than the usual May date. But, this is because of the COVID-19 restrictions that had been imposed on the territory.

Since the BVI’s internal reopening and the launch of the programme, Scatliffe said that residents have been capitalising on the various discounted packages being offered by the Tourist Board’s affiliate hospitality businesses.

“We have seen a few images of persons taking advantage of the businesses that they chose, and I even reached out to a few of the industry partners to find out how the programme has been going so far. Some said it was going good and I think I saw Mango Bay said that they were completely booked out,” Scatliffe told BVI News.

“So, we can definitely say that persons are taking advantage of the programme, whether it’s kayaking or just a simple one or two nights stay at a villa or hotel,” she added.

Helps to stimulate the economy

The Tourist Board’s regional marketing manager further pointed to the economic benefits of the initiative, stating that it helps to generate revenue internally.

“It can also be an eye-opener to the residents in the BVI that the BVI is definitely a place where you can vacation. You don’t always have to go abroad to find exploration or adventure, we have it right here at home, and that in turn will be able to put back into our local economy which would be a ripple effect all around.”

Programme created to bring awareness of BVI

Scatliffe also explained that the programme was initially created to bring awareness and educate locals on the many aspects of the BVI that they had not yet discovered.

She said that many residents are unfamiliar with islands in the territory besides the one where they reside.

The programme — which usually extends to residents of the USVI, Puerto Rico and St Maarten — will only be available to BVI residents this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s Staycation is set to conclude in October.

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10 Comments

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  1. Hmmmmmm says:

    Vacate – vacation

    Stay – staycation

  2. Sooooo says:

    Sooo why does a local need to stay anywhere other than his own home in this tiny Territory. It’s not like the scenery or the weather changes. Maybe they get to stay someplace clean other than where they live. This staycation in the BVI is nonsense.

    Like 4
    Dislike 25
    • Smh says:

      Ok Mr. Kill-Joy. If you want to stay in your clean house stay and keep quiet. Smdh

      Like 18
    • Anonymous says:

      @soooo, you sound so lame, Some people enjoy a change of scenery every now and then. If you broke just say you broke and stop the nonsense.

      Like 19
      Dislike 1
    • EXACTLY RIGHT says:

      We are suffering after being laid off, huge price increases at the stores, expensive internet that is unreliable, hurricane season upon us and who exactly has money to waste on moving into someone else’s home for a staycation? I call it a depressioncation, when you have to leave gorgeous and get back to still fixing up after IrmaMaria home Ville. We need $$ relief to help pay bills, some had to turn phones off permanently. Kids need food 3 x a day but most are not getting it. Unless the parents work for Government…. Staywhat??

  3. Rubber Duck says:

    It is more economic for hotels to stay closed than to open for the tiny number of staycations they are likely to sell.

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
    • Know it all says:

      That’s the hotels call to make. Nobody forcing them to open. If they choose to then it’s obviously economical for them. Y’all think y’all know everything.

  4. Local says:

    Rubber duck you sound like a broke duck , there are some of us that would enjoy couple nights in anegada or virgin Gorda where no one knows you and just have fun if you know anything about fun but there’s a cost to that so maybe it’s out of your league .

  5. Ooh says:

    Great for birthdays!

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