Premier insists, tourism summit was not a waste of time
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has rejected claims that the recent National Tourism Summit was a waste of time after being challenged in the House of Assembly (HOA) over its effectiveness.
The summit, which gathered more than 200 stakeholders at Peter Island Resort, addressed key issues in the tourism sector, including overcrowding, product development, and increasing overnight visitor numbers.
During the House sitting, Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn pressed the Premier on whether the summit added any real value to the discussions around tourism development.
“I would say they added value—I wouldn’t say necessarily that they said anything new—but from all accounts, many persons were very pleased with the presentations which were given,” Wheatley responded. “The summit itself, I believe, the part of the benefit of having the summit is bringing everybody together in that particular type of forum and starting to form some level of consensus on the way forward and dealing with complex issues.”
“The Premier said that nothing new came out of what was said ostensibly in the summit, and our local professionals have been calling for a long time for a tourism strategy — a tourism plan. They’ve been asking to see product development,” Walwyn said. “If they said nothing new or if our local persons have been saying this and nothing has happened, would the Premier then say that the summit was a waste of time because you learned nothing different than what you were told from our own people and no action ensued?”
Consensus was necessary
The Premier, however, dismissed the claim that the event lacked purpose, arguing that it played a key role in forming consensus among stakeholders.
“I certainly wouldn’t say it was a waste of time. Everyone who attended the summit spoke about how useful the summit was and how exceptional it was—really a first of its kind,” he asserted. “I have to recognise and congratulate those persons who approached me with the idea of a summit.”
He added that the opportunity for local practitioners and external experts to engage in dialogue was crucial in shaping a well-rounded approach to the territory’s tourism challenges.
“Having persons in the room who can look at the issue from a variety of perspectives gives the opportunity for our own views to really evolve on particular issues,” Wheatley explained. “I thought that the exchange was good—to be able to have our local practitioners together having that conversation. Of course, it was very good for me to listen to all the different practitioners and also to have that outside perspective as well.”
Further rejecting claims that the summit lacked impact, the Premier described it as a significant event. “It’s always useful to bring all those persons together and to have a dialogue as opposed to persons just giving their views,” he stated. “Having persons come from other places, sometimes it’s important to hear different perspectives, even if they end up just confirming what we already know.”
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I just love it how Hon. Walwyn, Mather and Turnbull kept the government on their toes in the House.
It was not one of a kind. Tourist Board had these kinds of meetings regularly twice a year when you had people in charge who knew what they were doing and Board chairpersons stayed out of the way. The Summit was not needed and had very little if any value and I went both days. You also had a summit on days when cruise ships were in and many local small tourism businesses could not afford to attend. We need a strategic tourism plan that looks at developing our product, enticing investments in hotels and tourism activities, enhancing air access, and fixing our infrastructure to keep pace with the developments. Cutting out the red tape to allow for seasonal hiring on work permits and also making it easy for yachts and water taxis to operate including going to the USVI and back. Develop a unit with Customs and Immigration to deal with Tourism who are more customer friendly and visually pleasing. Lastly to heavily focus on Customer Service and then once these are in play, then focus super heavy on marketing and letting the world know that BVI is back as a luxury destination. Cut out the bullspit about stupid Vybes Kartel concerts and this heavy focus on cruise ships. But to do all this you need people in charge with the knowledge and experience and passion. You don’t have to like them very much but the last administration did very good for us including Sharon, Harrigan and Skelton. Bring them back. You got rid of your best people.
I agree with many of your points but we dont have to be just 1 thing. Cruise ships can live alongside being a luxury destination. Why does it have to be either or? We have enough Islands to accommodate both.There are some individuals that you mention that are effective but I believe with the exception of Harrigan we need someone that can execute a new vision.
is correct! Alleged ‘summit’ at Peter island was a waste of time.
The summit was a big waste of time. Time I can’t get back. No new ideas no new plan no new nothing zip zip zip. Just a darn waste of people time.
“GOD Points But”, you are so spot on!
Luxury vacations has nothing to do with cruise tourism.
It has everything to do with experiences
Case in Point: You, may offer a villa for rent, at thirty grand a week. I may choose to offer mines at 15 grand a week.
The level of experiences, I choose to provide, may not be the one’s you are providing;
Private chefs, excursions to a particular area, on/ off island, in-room massages daily, and so forth..
Now, how does having cruise tourism PREVENT me from offering such experiences
THIS, is what’s missing from the conversation!
Experiences, that guests will keep on
talking about, until the next visit!
This, is what we should all talk about: how to make our on-island guests, want to vist, and revisit!
After all, it IS, about the guests, AND, their experiences, here, in these beautiful Virgin Islands, that we call home!
And it ties in with the airport expansion , for some reason there is a belief that if its easier to get here that the luxury visitor will all of a sudden lose their interest/desire to visit us …ridiculous, time is the new currency..think about it everything that technology impacts has to do with making task shorter and more convenient and saving/re-allocating space , giving us that time to spend how we chose; but we are supposed to believe that is a negative for the luxury tourist . nonsense
Guests love derilict cars on derlict land. They love the 3rd world experience. Others go to St Barths or Bermuda.
Waste of money it being at Peter Island.
There are so many things wrong with the summit. As a developer who brought about the Cruise Port I know exactly what is limiting the future of tourist development. We remain unpaid for bringing the Port Authority the Cruise Port Development and cruise ship guarantees of $90,000,000. Our $2 million USD fees remain unpaid. I have made sure everyone we know realize the risk at bring development to the BVI. I was just asked by someone who attended if i would consider doing a luxury hotel project there. My answer is a firm no.
Got wasted. It was a h**l of good time. Well worth the time
Oh yeh, thanks tax payers. Xxx luv u