Premier under fire over govt’s missing tourism plan
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn slammed the government for failing to deliver a comprehensive tourism plan, warning that the absence of a strategy is putting the Virgin Islands’ main economic sector at risk.
During his presentation of a no-confidence motion against the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government, Walwyn told the House of Assembly that despite repeated calls, the Dr Natalio Wheatley-led VIP had yet to produce a plan to guide tourism, even though it remains the “lifeblood of this country.”
Walwyn reminded the House of Assembly that former Premier Andrew Fahie formally tasked the then-Junior Minister for Tourism, Sharie deCastro, with leading the development of a National Tourism Plan. Fahie announced that deCastro would chair a special committee and work with a senior adviser to finalise the plan by the end of 2021, and incorporate it into the 2022 budget and beyond.
“Can you believe it? That we do not have a tourism plan up to now?” Walwyn asked. He added, “We are now seven years post that and we still do not have a tourism plan for the most important industry in this country.”
He argued that small businesses had been investing in upgrades with the expectation that a strategy would be in place. “People invest their livelihoods in the industry. Small businesses, restaurants, shops, small intimate villas and so on, go and they refurbish their place, they get nice sheets, they get all manner of things because they are depending on a competent government to plan properly,” Walwyn stated.
I was insulted
Walwyn also criticised the Premier’s dismissal of the issue as “not rocket science.”
“I took that as an insult when he said it’s not rocket science because it is almost making an industry that I studied in and worked in… feel as if it’s nothing [and as if] you don’t need no planning,” he said.
He argued that tourism planning requires precise strategy. “It is a science. It is rocket science. When you go to Disney, everything in Disney is organised strategically to dislodge your money from your pocket,” he argued
The absence of a tourism plan comes as the BVI struggles to revive its tourism numbers, which dropped sharply after March this year, Walwyn noted. “We have to sit down and start to plan what we’re doing properly. We have new markets for us to explore,” he said.
Tourism has long served as the second pillar of the BVI’s economy, alongside its financial services sector. However, recent reports highlight growing competition from neighbouring territories, such as St. Thomas, where marketing budgets far exceed those of the Virgin Islands. Walwyn echoed these concerns, pointing out that the BVI Tourist Board received about $10.7 million this year, but most of it goes to operating expenses, leaving little for marketing compared with rivals.
“You come in with a marketing budget of $2 million, and St Thomas got one of $20 million, competing for the same people that you are competing for,” he explained.
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Amen, Brother! Set of reckless fools sailing this ship off the falls!
Well adumbrated Myron, your polemics will take you and the alliance team and the country to higher discussion on nation building and not entitlement as Ronnie and Marlon and natalio and John cline and Claude want it to be.
While the former leader is sitting in a Prison cell, this guy has the be the worst, the absolute worst leader this territory has ever had.
WHEATLEY IS IN TROUBLEEEEEE WITH A BIG FAT CAPITAL T.
The worst of the worst leader this Island has seen. That Las Vegas trip should be deep six.Vegas is not going to do any business with the BVI, the BVI don’t have any major hotel chain.
Deep six the trip to Las Vegas. Las Vegas is to big and advanced to do business with the BVI. Perhaps in the next 15 years. Just another waste of the taxpayers money. By the way, the Government have a travel expense but they don’t stick within the travel budget. They fudge the numbers. That trip to Las Vegas is nothing more than a vacation for them to gamble, have room service and stay in the LUXARY hotels overlooking the city. Then they come back with nothing of value.
Do any of the backbenchers have any iota of common decency or compassion for the BVI and its people? How can they all sit quietly on the government side while that little boy destroys the fabric of this country?
You mean NONE of them (Luce, Karl, Vincent, Kye..) see that their ‘leader’ is i**pt and a total mu**et?!?!
The voting public should hold EACH and every one that sides with Natalie’s policies (lack thereof) and blatant mi****agement of his portfolio and his lackluster performance to date. Are they so blinded by party politics that they are collectively ALL WILLING to see this once thriving country slip down the drain?!? That what you all voted for???
I agree with your comment, except for your denigrating designation of “that little boy”. It takes a man with a lot of cojones to stand as a minority and make his views known. That he does it in the face of comments like yours is a good thing for our democracy.
is not attractive to tourists but it sure is attractive to sargassum weed. There is a message in this floating weed magnetism.
Wait till we realise that the proposal is one incremental step every three years after you got outstanding appraisals. I’m convinced that this government does not care about the average working class.
Oh and a bonus annually at different scores….hmmmm
The government must put a cease to and ban all small businesses, haor, nails, fabrics, clothing, shoes and others to build back and to protect local entrepreneurship.
There was a time when locals owned and ran over 99.9% of the businesses in town..Today that number is around .002%
A nation not providing for security and space for local entrepreneurs is a country that has sold out its people, economic, cultural and historic standings.