Record visitor numbers marked start of 2024, says Premier
Premier and Minister of Tourism Dr Natalio Wheatley announced that the British Virgin Islands is experiencing a record number of visitors this year.
He made this statement during a recent House of Assembly (HOA) session in response to criticisms regarding the tourism sector.
“You would think we are having the worst tourism season ever,” the Premier remarked. “But would you be surprised to learn that the first quarter of 2024 is the most visitors we ever had in the history of the Virgin Islands? Would you be surprised to learn that the first six months of 2024 were the most visitors we ever had to start the year?”
He highlighted that 2023 recorded the second highest number of visitors in a calendar year, with 2019 trailing closely behind. The Premier noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had hindered progress between 2019 and 2023.
“We’re still the sailing capital of the world,” he asserted, adding, “I aint care about Rhode Island—apologies to the people of Rhode Island.”
The discussion on tourism arose during the debate on the Tourist Board Amendment Bill, where various members addressed the current state of tourism and potential solutions.
In related news, regional airline WINAIR is exploring the possibility of direct flights to Virgin Gorda. CEO Hans van de Velde recently met with Minister of Works Kye Rymer to discuss the airline’s vision for expanding its network, expressing optimism about the growth potential in the British Virgin Islands.
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Bad news as now a record number of people have witnessed the decrepit state of the Territory. Now they will tell their friends about Natures Dirty Little Secret. Good job.
Sailing Captial of the World? Google it.
If everything is so great, why are reputable companies already DISCOUNTING for Christmas and New Year?
You have never understood the maritime industry. The least you can do is listen to the people who do.
Great news Premier. However, we must remember that when a tourist destination gets overrun with too many cruise ship tourists, the destination loses its cachet and wealthy visitors/overnight visitors turn away. Right now popular European capitals are overrun and locals are protesting and telling cruise visitors to stay away. We know what happens if Governments and locals get too greedy and think that more is better. They kill the golden goose.
Please hush with this same old tired bullshit! The BVI tourism product is hardly impacted by cruise shippers. The people that want to avoid them can simply go to the outer islands. We act is if cruise ships don’t have wealthy people on them as well. Do you think Norwegian, Disney, Celebrity and Evrima are cheap cruises? These people have money as well. The wealthy you speak of provision their s**t and stay in their corner so while the dollar amount may seem more, it is not spread around to businesses and employees like the cruise shippers and day trippers. The BVI can handle both once managed properly.
Seaborn and Silversea cruise lines have well-heeled passengers; those you mention do not appeal to wealthy cruisers. They are strictly middle market, if not budget friendly.
You do not need to look far to compare what happens when these different markets are targeted. St. Barts has maintained an exclusive reputation; Nassau, Bahamas has not.
The ignorance is STUNNING!
this ‘visitor’ BS. Cruise ship visitors and day trippers DON’T COUNT. A visitor to the BVI is a person who overnights in the BVI for any reason including all the illegal visitors!
We will not continue to be the sailing capital of the world if the government continues its policy of denying foreign crews the right to come to BVI to work while making it easier for USVI crews to operate in our waters.
There are not enough local crew to support the industry.
The government needs to understand that.
The BVI needs to focus on being competitive in a global marketplace – making is friendly and easy to do business here. The industry was founded, and thrived, on this principle back in the 90s.
Our focus as of late is to somehow try and force people to base their business here. This limit peaked long ago and is not beneficial to the territory.
As usual we are so focussed on the “now” that we sre not focusing on our legacies’ future. We think by adding taxes and restrictions that we will make more government revenue, but realistically we will just have less customers to charge.
The BVI has a reputation as an unfriendly destination. Our geography can’t be taken away, but it’s all we have going for us. Imagine the potential if we could become a friendly place to do business. The opportunities are endless, and we would be able to choose what customers benefit the BVI and its people most.
In the absence of a publicly supported tourism development plan, nobody is agreed on where we want to go anyway. Fail to plan, plan to fail.
Good points but the BVI is and has been resting on its laurels for decades. Back in the day, the place was a lot friendlier. Despite numerous efforts that is not going to change. Surliness has become part of the BVI visiting experience. People here generally don’t care.
The “right” to come to the VI to work? What right? Your mentality is alarming.
Indeed not enough crew to support the industry here. Nor is there much of a path for people from here to get into the industry. You often post comments so I’d imagine that you’d be aware that asking the govt to be aware of this issue, which they seem to have little appreciation for, is nothing but a pipe dream. They just want the cruise ship pax departure tax.
FYI foreigners don’t have the right to work here in any industry, paid or unpaid. Doesn’t matter if you’re from USVI. Agreed that facilitating the work permit process for foreigners crewing on yachts in the BVIs makes total sense, which means they won’t do anything about it.
Cruise ship passengers should not count.
Is there a need to DUMB DOWN when using the English Language in a quote? I mean REALLY! ” I ain’t care about Rhode Island”
@Rubber Duck do you think we can just operate in USVI waters without any reglations? try it and see what happens.
‘SAYS” premier. Another “misspoke” (l**)
No matter the government, record numbers will always be recorded. This is nothing to tout your horn about.
Cruise ship passenger numbers don’t matter. We want the tourists who stay on island for a week and spend money.
Logical desire to have people stay longer but that begs the question as to why the government focus is on cruise ships, which brings 80% of tourists here for the day.
Cruise ship passengers should not count. Many destinations have realized that cruise ships is bad business in the long run. They leave little money per person and give great wear and tear. We should focus on quality and not quantity. Look at the numbers!!!!!
We have NEVER been the sailing capital of the world, although we are one of the dozen places that credibly make that claim. But we. ARE the charter capital if the world, which is different.
Don’t mess it up…value this, and be more understanding and friendly to the industry and all the supporting businesses! They are what make the BVI the Charter Capital of the world.
Too bad he doesn’t understand that high season for land based visitors is pretty much the month of February and that’s it. Good $$ chased away to keep taxi drivers and chair renters happy. Let’s not forget Ro***co of course.
Been to Cane Garden Bay or the Baths when the cruise ship is in? And exactly how much money do they spend here?