Deputy Premier on Tourism: We have to deliver!
Deputy Premier Lorna Smith has expressed optimism about the BVI’s tourism prospects but firmly believes that much more needs to be done to prepare the territory for growth in this vital industry.
Yesterday, in the House of Assembly (HOA), Smith emphasised the importance of a clean and appealing environment to support the BVI’s tourism product. “If it’s necessary for us to use the Tourist Board to do it, let us do it,” she argued while highlighting the need for a cleaner territory to attract visitors.
Despite the optimism and potential, Smith made it clear that action is needed now. “We have to deliver,” she urged while calling for a renewed focus on completing projects and ensuring that the BVI remains a premier tourism destination.
Smith also stressed that the government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility. “All of us own this country, and all of us must take pride in it,” she urged.
The Deputy Premier underscored tourism’s crucial role in the territory’s economy, describing it as one of the twin pillars supporting the BVI. She expressed excitement over upcoming developments, notably the reopening of Peter Island Resort in November, along with continued expansion efforts at other prominent resorts like Oil Nut Bay and Bitter End. Smith suggested these are promising signs of recovery following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Smith’s remarks also touched on the industry’s challenges, particularly in implementing plans for new developments. She expressed frustration that some projects, such as the proposed Six Senses Resort, initially intended for Virgin Gorda and now being built in Grenada, have not materialised. “What is stopping us from implementing? What is stopping us from doing what we need to do to get new properties going?” she questioned.
Regarding air travel, Smith noted the need for extending the runway at the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport to accommodate larger flights from places like New York. Smith mentioned that a business plan is in development and expressed hope that a proposal for the extension would be ready by the end of the year. “We know that we need to extend the airport; there is no question about it,” she stated.
Reflecting on the past and future, Smith also recalled the promotional strategies that once worked for the BVI, including taglines like “We are different” and “Nature’s Little Secrets,” and acknowledged the efforts of the current staff at the Tourist Board. She praised individuals such as Lynette Harrigan and others for their hard work in promoting the territory internationally.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
70% of overnight tourism capacity on the water and not one word about the changes needed for maritime business.
She misses the old “Nature’s Little Secrets” line.
How about: “Nature’s Little Chance of Survival”
Catchy, and true.
She is still ignorant of tourism despite all her global travel in the last 2 years. Lengthening the Beef Island runway will never happen in her lifetime because it is unnecessary. Overnight tourists on land will continue to flock to the USVI because their infrastructure is 1st world not worse than 3rd world as in the BVI.
Which USVI? When was the last time you been to St Thomas? The waterfront road project is nice yes but that’s where it ends. St Thomas is a complete f**king s**t hole and nothing like it was 15-20 years ago. It’s a DUMP! Stop it, they have more gold shops and a nice waterfront, major airlift, that’s it. Do not compare USVI to BVI when it comes to Tourism.
Ayo killed the goose that laid the golden egg
Your broski’s have vested interests in that sector now is why you found your tourism voice all ah sudden!
Let’s talk about NHI first Missy!
These people just don’t care about our islands. Only their pockets and their legacies.
STOP covering over our nature with your sick neo-liberal fantasies of making us servants to outsiders so that they can live out their own tropical king and queen fantasies. We can do better.
Nature is the starting point a) tourists come here because we are blessed with more natural beauty than most places on Earth and b) because if we actually preserve it, our grandchildren will have a BVI, too, and not just some old crumbling hotels damaged by hurricanes and no longer worth a thing. Think Prospect Reef. Nature lasts. It gives us food and oxygen and life and holds the ground together and a million other jobs for us that we don’t even appreciate because of our simple money-obsessed approach. Your latest economic/tourism fantasies are nothing but short term plans to make things look good for a short while. Meanwhile the nature of the BVI gets permanently destroyed, piece by piece.