National Tourism Plan under review, says Premier
Premier and Minister with senior responsibility for Tourism Andrew Fahie has said the British Virgin Islands will soon have a National Tourism Plan.
The Premier, who was speaking in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, said the plan is currently under review.
“There was a National Tourism Plan that should have been done and was not. So now we have given that back to the board to review it and speed it up so we can get a National Tourism Plan going with the infrastructure and the development of tourism,” the Premier stated.
“Right now, it might look to our eyes that this needs to be done but when the research is done, it might show we need to invest in more in beaches, we need to invest more in other areas,” he further explained.
Operating blindly
Fahie further said the lack of a National Tourism Plan is causing officials within the sector to work blindly.
“Right now we are shooting in the dark, we are doing things out of emotions,” he stated. “We are maintaining what we have, but to go to the next level we need a plan and that’s what we are trying to get done.”
He further informed the House of Assembly that residents can expect public consultations on the National Tourism Plan in the near future.
Fahie made his statements on the National Tourism Plan while responding to questions from Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull — the Representative of the Second District, which his one of the territory’s main tourism hubs.
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Anther $500k research project that will sit on the shelves in the archives.
Fix the sewers, fix the roads, clean up the garbage, good to go. No charge for consulting.
There was an expression of interest for this type of project right after the hurricane and if I recall some 15 companies submitted EOI’s and to this day not one company was even sent an email acknowledging receipt of the documents. We can look to other islands in the Caribbean have benefitted from well thought out and documented National Tourism plans. Bermuda and Antigua come to mind. I think St Lucia is in the process of doing one too.
To an extent the premier is correct in making the point he has. But not only is the country operating without a Tourism Plan; the government itself is operating without a National Development plan. Who then is responsible to put forward those plans? Where’s the vision?. Some call themselves “Action man”. Where is the “Vision man”? The late Chief Minister Stout championed the saying: “Where there’s no Vision the people perish”. The premier is head of tourism; as he is head of all other government ministries that he Sub-contracts to his foot soldiers. Political parties have up to 4 years to Develop their plan, their vision for the country and put it into their Manifesto. But what do we get? a manifesto rushed together during the last month or two before official campaign launch. I especially recall on the eve of 2019 political campaign the back and forth bickering from NDP chairman criticising VIP for plagiarizing their manifestos (copying from theirs). Lack of a master plan, or at least a working plan produces wild and crazy utterances like the following thoughtless, ridiculous potential tourism plan for Cane Garden Bay where an “Underwater Restaurant” was thought of as a possibility”. You don’t simply tax Voters, (the majority of whom are minimum salary workers) then take 12 or 15 million dollars of those tax-imposed revenues and give it to anyone, or a board Director without dictating how it will be spent; or the board giving a detailed plan of how the money will be spent.
There is only one BVI ..and the entire BVI is a tourism destination. Each area has its “product marketing strengths”. Cane Garden Bay, Brewers Bay, Carrot Bay for example have their marketing strengths. Brewers Bay used to promote Camping several years ago. CGB always pride itself as the beach-lovers paradise. Bomba Shack area was/is Surfers. Same thing for Josias Trellis Bay is know for its full moons. Sophers Hole is great with boaters, bars and restaurants. Look at that. I just without thinking of it, created for Free, a Tourism Plan”. Virgin Gorda and Anegada plans are already written; except Virgin Gordians were left out as real benefactors. Anegadians still have a fighting chance. Hoping I’m right. So, First Thing in the New Tourism Plan must be BVI-slanders/Belongers. In the 1960s we experimented with Tourism and opened the doors to Tourism without a plan; or a “Jobs only Plan”. So here we are! Chickens in the Roost (~/\~)
To an extent the premier is correct in making the point he has. But not only is the country operating without a Tourism Plan; the government itself is operating without a National Development plan. Who then is responsible to put forward these plans? Where’s the vision?. Some call themselves “Action man”. Where is the “Vision man”? The late Chief Minister Stout championed the saying: “Where there’s no Vision the people perish”. The premier is head of tourism; as he is head of every other government ministry that he Sub-contracts to his foot soldiers. Political parties have up to 4 years to Develop their plan, their vision for the country and put it into their Manifesto. But what do we get? manifestos rushed together during the last month or two before official campaign launch. I especially recall on the eve of 2019 political campaign the back and forth bickering between NDP chairman and VIP, with NDP criticising VIP for plagiarizing their manifestos (copying from theirs). Lack of a master plan, or at least a working plan produces wild and crazy utterances like the following thoughtless, ridiculous potential tourism plan for Cane Garden Bay where an “Underwater Restaurant” was thought of as a possibility”. You don’t simply tax Voters, (the majority of whom are minimum salary workers) then take 12 or 15 million dollars of those tax-imposed revenues and give it to anyone, or a board Director without dictating how it will be spent; or the board giving a detailed plan of how the money will be spent.
There is only one BVI ..and the entire BVI is a tourism destination. Each area has its “product marketing strengths”. Cane Garden Bay, Brewers Bay, Carrot Bay for example have their marketing strengths. Brewers Bay used to promote Camping several years ago. CGB always pride itself as the beach-lovers paradise. Bomba Shack area was/is Surfers. Same thing for Josias. Trellis Bay is know for its full moons. Sophers Hole is great with boaters, bars and restaurants. Look at that. I just without thinking of it, created for Free, a Tourism Plan”. Courtesy of “Round peg in Round hole” lol. Virgin Gorda and anegada plans are already in place; except Virgin Gordians were left out as the real benefactors. Anegadians still have a fighting chance. Hoping I’m right. The doors to Tourism were opened as an Experiment; without a Tourism Plan, or with a “Jobs for the people only plan”. BREAKING NEWS! Any new plan, Tourism or otherwise must start with “National benefactors” included!
Clean up the f***ing place, introduce tourism/hospitality from the first year of High School and make it one of the majors that can be chosen in the senior years. The simple quick fixes are attitude and cleanliness. Outside of that we need proper investment in decent lodging/hotels/villas and a real plan for getting persons in and out (locals and tourists) while they decide on what to do with the airport.
They could start by simply labeling the plants at the botanical garden and cleaning the yard by the african church in kingston they paid so much money to fence. The simple things are being ignored yet they invite all these ships and drive the people around to look at bush and bad roads. Lets start with the simple tourism product. Not everyone wants to sit on the beach.
“Fahie further said the lack of a National Tourism Plan is causing officials within the sector to work blindly.”
“Right now we are shooting in the dark, we are doing things out of emotions,” he stated. “We are maintaining what we have, but to go to the next level we need a plan and that’s what we are trying to get done.” Real talk. The genesis of tourism as an economic pillar seriously started in the mid to late 60s with Little Dix Bay on VG so it is highly surprising that a National Tourism Plan (NTP) has not been developed and put in place as yet.
Moreover , it is also surprising that though ministerial government with increased autonomy busted on the scene in 1967 yet the territory does not have a National Development Plan(NDP). If you do not know where you are going, any road will get you there—-Lewis Carroll. Henry Kissinger also wrote, “I you don’t where you are going, every road will get you nowhere.” Further, a pilot does not leave an airport without a flight plan nor a captain leaves port without a float plan. The point is that an NDP is urgent and important. An NDP is defined as a destination and every sector must feed into it to get to the destination
Undoubtedly, an NTP is needed but an NDP is also needed urgently. The NDP is the master-master plan and all other master plans must feed into it, ie, economy, water, wastewater, electricity, road, agriculture, fishery, medical, education, environmental, telecommunications, land use……..etc. The VI is in a quandry. It must work on an NDP yet continue delivering high level, quality services, ie, building and sustaining an economy, improving standard of living and quality of life, provided topnotch education, providing First World infrastructure, providing accessible and affordable healthcare…..etc.
Simply, an NDP defines a destination and the role each sector plays in getting to the destination. It defines how to aim and hit the define target. It promotes stable and sustainable development. The NDP must be a top priority. Furthermore, as other bloggers have noted, the developed NDP should be put before the electorate in a referendum for approval.
“. If you do not know where you are going, any road will get you there—-Lewis Carroll. ” “Simply, an NDP defines a destination and the role each sector plays in getting to the destination. It defines how to aim and hit the define target. It promotes stable and sustainable development.” Real talk but what is needed is real, concrete action. Poor planning p..s poor performance. This alliteration is real. NDP, NTP, NMP…..etc. Leh we geh ah dun. The VI has waste too much time aspiring and dreaming and not enough strategizing and doing and producing outcomes.
1. Are you saying that NDP should come b4 NTP
2. Why can’t the territory do both simultaneously
3. Is NDP a good abbreviation to go with
4. Why did it and why is it taking so long to roll out NTP
5. Are successive governments responsible for the lack of planning
6. Is the BVI taking the sector for granted
7. Does the BVI feel they don’t have to compete
8. Is the NPT an urgency
9. How fragile is the tourism sector
@E. Leonard, NDP (the plan) is a good idea that provides a framework from which to operate but will any government that didn’t pass it follow it. Every government that comes to power wants to do its own thing. A government that gets kick to curb is because it is not performing, not meeting expectations. So the incoming government feels no obligation to take up what the former government left. Most government tries to undo what the former government did. For example, there is an aggressive effort to undo any thing Prez Barack Obama did whether it was good policy or not.
BVI has done a great job of runnng out the overnight visitor. Ask around, February is the entire “season” and most places still have vacancies. Those cruise ship folks haven’t turned into overnight guests dur to the overcrowding they experience on their day visit.
The bareboat people are also contributing less as they bring along food (duty free) and eat more and more meals on board. The $$ they pay for the boat leaves the local economy and repatriates to the US corporations and owners.
The new tourism economy is based on 9-5 alcohol consumption and chair rental. Sad. You had a good thing going and got greedy.