Premier sees silver lining in cruise passenger decline
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has described a recent decline in cruise passenger arrivals as an opportunity to build a more sustainable tourism sector in the BVI.
Speaking during the first broadcast of Virgin Islands Voice, Dr Wheatley said the territory had seen “a slight decline” in cruise visitors but insisted it was “actually not that bad.”
“We want to have a little more overnight guests and kind of stay at a steady, sustainable rate as it pertains to cruise passengers,” he stated.
Dr Wheatley noted that overnight visitors tend to contribute more to the local economy through spending on hotels, restaurants, and other services. He also acknowledged that many cruise ships leave the region during the summer, heading to the Mediterranean, and said the BVI is looking to attract more cruise traffic during that time.
“That’s when we need a lot more cruise passengers,” he said.
While some stakeholders have raised concerns about reduced cruise activity affecting ferry traffic and vendors in Road Town, the Premier argued that the changing trends present a chance for businesses to adapt.
“What we’re saying is, we have to learn to evolve and we have to learn to adapt. And as business people, if we don’t evolve and adapt, then we won’t be sustainable,” he asserted.
He pointed to the territory’s marine sector as an example of diversification, with operators offering inter-island trips and charters. “There’s a thriving marine business within the Virgin Islands… going to Virgin Gorda, going to Anegada, doing cruises in our waters,” he explained.
Dr Wheatley also highlighted recent data showing a 6.4 per cent increase in overnight visitors during the first quarter of 2025, saying that new airlift connections had helped to boost arrival numbers.
While he recognised that cruise tourism still plays an important role, he stressed the need for balance across the sector to maintain long-term economic stability.
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We been telling Slowande tis for 3 plus years now! But he keep bragging about cruise numbers like it represents our real tourism impact financially. All of a sudden because the season done early he turn spin doctor and know about overnight tourist importance?? Are we really falling for this incompetence?
So he admits that the mass of minimal spending cruise ship passsengers operate to deter high spending overnight passengers!
The obvious answer is to kock down the cruise ship dock, close the airport, deport the financial services business, send the charter yacht to STT (whose that aren’t already there), and go back to subsistence farming.
S!0wW@nde is a one trick pony concerning the economy. Why is this man Minister of Finance when he is terrible with math and has no understanding of how economics work
You’re correct and even more frightening is his pushing of the Beef Island Airport expansion, even though he’s now shunted aside waiting for “the business case” from KPMG beforehand. The man is completely cl**less.
Exactly. Consultants shouldn’t have to make a business case for you. Either you as the responsible party know it to be a viable cash generating project/ if not and, if so, with what caveats. Paying KPMG to do this is a waste of money. This place is addicted to construction projects and tourism. This is a serious problem
S!0wW@nde doesn’t really know anything about economics and specifically about tourism. He believes built it and they will come. Buddy, if he can’t contextualize the world economy regional economy and local economy, what this man doing as minister of finance?
So we were saying it was good that VI had more cruise ships and now there are less ships we are celebrating that as a good result.
It is kind of hard to plan with leaders like this.
Next he will be campaigning to shorten the runway.
are a major deterrent to cruise ships operating in the Caribbean and that will never change!
People is not going on cruise like they use to.
That was really funny ) the Indians said ” Whiteman man speaks with forked tongue ” ) looks like master WEATIE has adapted that principle ) or as skelie has hollered out – the COI is causing RETARDATION ) and if that’s yhe case , yhen , then as his exelency CSC – the city SLICKer also hollered out ” WE GOT FRIGGED ” ) and it’s by OUR OWN BLACK PEOPLE WHO TRY TO PIN THE BLAME ON THE WHITE BOYZ & DEM ISLAND PEOPLE TO HIDE THEIR GUILT / AND ITS ALL PERPETRATED BY THOSE HIGHLY EDUCATED ONES EITH THE ” TRUMP’S MENTALITY ” AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY ) THE NOTORIOUS DREW INTRODUCED US TO THE GOLY ” CARTELS ” FOR A FEW DOLLARS ) WE EVEN HAVE A CANARY ON HIS YELLO SITE HOLLERING OUT FREE HIS MASTER *PRINCE – &DREW “OUT * LOOK AT WHAT THESE WANNABE GANSTERS WHO CALLS THEMSELVES POLITICIANS ARE DOING TO TO THEIR COUNTRY ) ONE GOOD THING IS THEY ARE EXPOSING THEIR HIDDEN XENOPHOBIA TO THE WORLD / SADLY WE WILL ALL BE VIEWED THE SAME WAY LIKE THOSE ANIMALS THAT LOOK LIKE HUMANS
His grandfather had seen a light at the end of the tunnel while the banks were taking people properties left right and center.
Let’s try to get the government and its employees to welcome overnight tourists instead of treating them like something they got on their shoe and ripping them off with landing charges as soon as they set foot on our islands.
Notice that the undiplomatic and disgraceful incident at Terrence Lettsome Airport by the highest head of state has not made UK’s BVI News today.
Had it been Hon. Ronnie Skelton, Hon. Myron Walwyn or other out spoken and strong leaders, it would be head line news.
Confirming what is suspected that this news site is controlled and manipulated,if not more, by the UK. It is their spying and properganda mouthpiece.
Give it till next week. This news media be behind the times sometimes. Guess they need to verify their sources of information before reporting.
I wanna believe you but do we have video evidence such as recording. These days everything is recorded over the phone even fights infront of Banco Popular between young lovers. A video would help bigly
Where is the data that shows that cruise passengers do not spend money? Which businesses have they spoken to? You are telling me that persons can afford to sail on Norwegian, Disney, Ritz Carlton, VIRGIN and don’t have money to spend? Or is it that most places are selling s**t so therefore they are not making sales? Is the BVI really capitalizing on the possibilities of cruise tourism, especially the higher end ships or is it a case of “Well I don’t make anything from it, so it’s not good for BVI!”???
There are at least 2 studies that showed that cruise tourism doesn’t produce the $$$ daily that overnight guests do. Average spend is around $20 for cruiser and $150 for overnight. Those are old numbers (circa 2004-2005). I’d estimate the $20 still holds up but now an overnighter would be closer to $200 per day. The BVI Tourist Board has the reports, they just won’t publish them as it goes against their plans.
Taxi drivers at the Pier Park will kill the tourist dollar there. They do not respect themselves number one, number two, there is a culture of Greed among some taxi drivers, number three, a lot of them are just straight up worthless in deeds and service.. leaving tourist at the beach and what not.
See why tpu anonymous. I think you will find that was not really journalism, so of course less likely to see stupid writing her or any where else.