Gov’t eyes symposium to connect entrepreneurs with cruise liners

The government will be moving to create new business opportunities for locals by bringing cruise industry players directly to aspiring Virgin Islands entrepreneurs, following recent discussions at the SeaTrade Global Conference.

Minister with responsibility for Ports Kye Rymer said the proposed symposium is intended to connect residents with cruise line representatives and highlight areas where new businesses can thrive within the territory’s tourism sector.

“We are going to embark on having a symposium where those entrepreneurs that are ambitious of owning a business… can hear directly from the cruise lines and understand the opportunities that exist,” Rymer explained.

No interest in mega-cruise lines

The initiative comes as the government refines its cruise tourism strategy, shifting focus away from simply increasing passenger numbers and instead prioritising quality experiences and sustainable growth. Rymer noted that while mega-ships carrying as many as 10,000 passengers are becoming more common globally, the Virgin Islands is not aggressively targeting that segment.

Instead, authorities are placing greater emphasis on luxury cruise lines, while maintaining relationships with established partners such as Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and Disney Cruise Line that already call at local ports.

According to Rymer, the key concern raised during discussions with stakeholders was ensuring that visitors have meaningful activities available during their short stays. “We want to make sure that once they come, there is product for them… something for them to do, without oversaturating our beaches,” he said.

The proposed symposium is expected to play a critical role in addressing that gap by encouraging locals to develop new offerings tailored to cruise visitors — particularly experiences that can be delivered within the typical six to eight-hour window that ships remain in port.

Officials believe this approach could help spread tourism earnings more broadly across the community, while also enhancing the overall visitor experience and encouraging repeat visits to the territory.