Premier on tourism plan: It’s not rocket science!
The territory’s leader has attempted to downplay claims that his government has been moving full-speed ahead without a plan to effect changes in the tourism sector.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley recently brushed off that criticism from opposition members and has contended that the government simply needs to provide access to the territory.
“We speak about a plan — and we’re going to develop a plan, we will. But I don’t want anybody to think that this thing is rocket science,” the Premier said. “It’s not rocket science. The Virgin Islands is a beautiful place that people want to come to.”
He added: “You don’t have to work hard to persuade them why they should come here. Everybody who comes here, they speak about the beauty of the place, they’re amazed by the Virgin Islands. [There are] just some key simple things that we have to do, like providing access. This thing’s not rocket science. You need to provide access to the Virgin Islands.”
Premier Wheatley argued that his government is on the right track in this regard and praised Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer for his efforts in the sector, particularly concerning the introduction of flights between the BVI and Miami.
According to the Premier, ever since American Airlines pulled out of Puerto Rico, the territory has been having problems with airlift. However, he said direct flights to Miami have been one of the most significant events happening in the territory, but politics would make some persons ignore such facts.
“We are not stopping there. We are very grateful to hear that we’ve gone from one flight a day to three flights a day,” Premier Wheatley said. “That is amazing.”
He added: “One problem I have with my government is that we do things and just be so casual about it. We just allow it to pass without speaking about it and allow persons to tell us we’re not doing well.”
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HIS ONLY PLAN IS FOR A FREE MUSIC FEST ALONG WITH A FEW …
wow
American Eagle does not operate from Puerto Rico but AA does. And yeh you are not doing well
So boo are you saying that Tola minister of tourism had no idea that AA travels to Puerto Rico. A shame.
his words not mine.
“According to the Premier, ever since American Airlines pulled out of Puerto Rico, the territory has been having problems with airlift.”
Too expensive to crow about this. Miami to Beef is $1,000 round trip.
Flights from New York to St Thomas are $350 round trip the first week of January. The USVI is 27 miles from here. This is a GIANT factor in tourism.
The BVI is a wonderful place. BUT you need to stop patting yourself on yhe back and come up with a real tourism plan. This amateur hour stuff is killing my villa rental business.
The poor BVI. This man never ran anything in his life. Now he thinks he doesn’t need a plan to manage the most important industry to the economy. Every other country has a tourism plan but as far as he is concerned it’s not rocket science so he doesn’t need one. Father deliver us from these nincompoops.
This guy is clueless. We need a plan to get you out of office.
Sowande?????????????????????? You okay???????????WTF??????????????????????????
As a US person who has been to the BVI 8 of the last 12 years, I agree with your Premier.
If the BVI was as easy to get to as -for example- St Thomas, you all would be overrun with tourists!
Well, the govt would like to expand the airport to get more people here. They didn’t say to get them here affordably as you point out Secondly, certain factions would like nothing better to have hordes of tourists here on cruise ships, each paying a departure tax. That’s why they spent $ 85 million on Pier Park. Lastly, the govt for decades has not been overtly interested in villa rentals. They should as villa rentals pump more money into the economy than day trippers. A family of 6 would pay $ 60 environmental tax upon arrival, and $ 120 departure tax no matter how long they stay. Plus of course villa rental fees, food, meals etc. But, a cruise ship with 3000 aboard pays something like $ 21,000 in departure tax
It is rocket science for you because you don’t know what the f**k you are doing. Your government is full speed on the move going Backwards.
As a.BVIslander it hurt me when this fake speaks on behalf of the people of the BVI and I know Ia BVIslander .This is out of wack not.a.leader .Stopattacking listen.Jamaica has.their shit in place,USVI has their shit in place,Barbados all other countries has their projection but you here getting petsonal.Come Jan.8 2024 Martin say You will hear
Ican saý it LOUD I’m not proud of you as a leader this childness of your leadership is far behind the likes of other Caribbean leaders in the tourism industry.Boy want to wear big man pants stop getting petsonal.
The keys to a successful tourism destination are: 1) Accessibility (flights) 2) Amenities (hotels) 3) Attractions (places/activities for tourists). The BVI lacks in all of these. It’s not the Premiere’s fault, but he inherited the problem. Unless the BVI fixes all 3 it will be almost impossible to compete. There are simply cheaper locations that are easier to get to, have better hotels, and offer more attractions (ie Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica).
According to Trip Advisor the BVI has 2 of the top 20 best small hotels in the Caribbean, Sugar Mill and Guana Island. Not bad for a very small country. And some other very good hotels like ABC, Long Bay, Little Dix, Cooper Island etc.
We also have the biggest and best sailing fleet with the best infrastructure for that in the world.
Unfortunately we also have a government and government employees who treat tourists like cattle to be milked. Petty entry and so called environmental taxes on arrival, long lines, unsmiling s l o w officials, dangerous roads, garbage heap roadsides and rip off taxi fares in junkmobiles.
Those are areas a tourist plan should address.
avoid the taxis and rent a car, this place is small you can’t get lost
Set the bar higher! Having 2 of the top 20 best “small hotels” in the Caribbean does not contribute much to your tourism economy.
Is saying )> mah people , this ain’t no big deal , ya boi got dis
Indeed it does not take a rocket scientist to know that people like going to places such as the BVI but the real question is whether they’ll want to return to high prices, and surly indifferent service, a tax to arrive, a tax to stay (as in cruising permits for charterers), and a tax to leave. There is also the issue of trash everywhere, and third world roads which suggest the Territory doesn’t much care about itself.
But Watch me wuk babaay watch me wuk.
Talk all and not some. Any body who has full time work in government should not be getting money from another office using government money. What about them who have full time government wuk but taxiing every day. All of you one and the same. With your deputy help we made a huge mistake.
The Premier has totally missed the point! A tourism strategy is very important, and I agree it is not rocket science but we need to get it done (actUally it is long overdue).
We must map out over the next 10 – 15 years how we want our tourism industry to evolve. Where do we expect to expand our markets, what is our carrying capacity, what types of tourism related investment supports our vision and how big is the airport expansion based on your tourist projections and of course taking into consideration other access points such as the multi-million-dollar west end port re-development. Yes, the BVI is beautiful but so are lots of other places. We have to be very strategic in how we develop tourism in the BVI and planning will provide that direction!! NO PLAN, PLAN TO FAIL!!!