Talks underway to attract new cruise companies to BVI
Local authorities are exploring the possibility of attracting an additional variety of cruise lines to the British Virgin Islands.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Anthony McMaster, told BVI News on Friday that the BVI is currently having talks with new cruise companies.
“We are hoping to establish more formal agreements. If we can get to the point of establishing berthing agreements, we would like to get that done because those [berthing agreements] come with certain guarantees, and it creates a win-win for everybody,” he said.
The permanent secretary gave that indication while also noting that talks are still underway to have Carnival Cruise Line to return to the British Virgin Islands on a more regular basis.
McMaster further told our news centre that, from all appearances, the discussions are going well.
“Both sides seem to be enthusiastic about the future,” he said.
The cruise line along with Royal Caribbean made their re-entry into the territory last year after pulling out years ago when the BVI had signed ‘unsatisfactory’ berthing agreements with other cruise carriers.
Once talks progress well, the BVI “would be able to see Carnival on a more frequent basis”, McMaster said.
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Have been wondering and thinking about this for years and up to this morning, only to find it as a head line in the news today.
Great news for the territory. Hope it materialises.
Bad news for the territory.
Cruise-ships only benefit the R—–s and a handful of taxi drivers.
Average daily spending is $5 dollars versus $150 dollar for overnight guests. They also spoil the baths, JVD and all high end destinations…
BAD BAD NEWS!
Without cruise ships all the taxis, small shops, bars, restaurants in Tortola, VG and JVD would all be closed. Would you be taking care of them now? Everything has pros and cons. Would you ride a donkey from home to town because your cars emits harmful emissions? We cannot just sit on the sidelines watching everyone and talking about we don’t like this or that. If not cruise ships now, then what? What can we do NOW? The Romneys and taxi people are locals making a living. It’s funny how we always talk about local local but the reality is if it’s not us, we don’t care for it. Too many of us are self-haters, bad minded and short-sighted fools too busy watching your brother/sister pocket instead of focusing on yourselves. Good work Mark and team.
@Native Son, I truly disagree with you. I take it as an insult when you stated that Tourist spoils the beach scene and other high end desternations. The $150.00 you quoted, we spend that amount or more on drinks only. With that type of negative thinking, don’t be surprised if Cruise ships sever their ties with the BVI. It’s as if you are saying Tourist is not welcome in the BVI. All you are doing is giving the BVI negative publicity. No one is willing to visit a place where there is negative publicity towards the paying Tourist.
See what you just started? Your comment is insulting to our visitors that help put bread and butter on most of our tables. No matter how much they spend,it is appreciated. The Tourist don’t have to come to the BVI. Native Son, you are a perfect example of I will bite the hand that feeds.
The truth hurts
@ Texas Cruiser you did not even spend $3 on a bottle of water let alone $150 on drinks. You are a cheap tourist and deserve to be insulted
The cruise ships continue to dump their cheap tourist and waste and leave us with scraps..another form of colonial tourism where we need to accept the food handed out to us forced upon us by so called leaders
A Government at work for the people! Look out in the harbor today, all the talk about overspending, we have money in the Territory because of that project. Our taxi men, small shops, beach restaurants and other businesses continue to benefit from this bold investment, even to JVD and VG. Imagine the Territory without the cruise pier post Irma? What would all these people do for a living? We need to be grateful around here.
Anthony macmaster, do you smell Road Town?
When are you all going to address the real issues? I am so disappointed in you. I thought you were one of the few that really would make a change
HE AND HIS BOSS CARES FOR THEIR POCKETS.HE IS A WASTE OF TAX PAYERS MONEY .I KNOW THE ONES WHO THEY CARES FOR WILL HELP THEM TO KEEP THEIR POSITION BECAUSE THEY STILL NEED MORE VOTES. I AM MAKING MY STOPS JUST LIKE WHAT THEY DID TO OUR AREA AFTER THE FLOOD.
If this is the case, then make the cruise ship passengers pay more tax – an environmental levy to clean up the damage they cause.
And introduce a windfall tax on the Romneys and the taxi drivers.
There are already rumblings among sailors that the cruise ships are destroying the natural beauty of the BVI. Talk of cruise crowds on Cane Garden Bay are starting to discourage sailors I know from returning. The BVIs already have the infrastructure in place to responsibly develop their sailing/tourism industries. Hire professionals to develop it, don’t get greedy for quick money, resist allowing local politicians to take money from big money groups (Willie T), and tourism in all its forms will flourish.
There are already rumblings among sailors that the cruise ships are destroying the natural beauty of the BVI. Talk of cruise crowds on Cane Garden Bay are starting to discourage sailors I know from returning. The BVIs already have the infrastructure in place to responsibly develop their sailing/tourism industries. Hire professionals to develop it, don’t get greedy for quick money, resist allowing local politicians to take money from big money groups (Willie T), and tourism in all its forms will flourish.
Please note we are the BVI which stands for British Virgin Islands, note the S. Not the BVIs, no such thing. This seems to be a real American thing to do, other tourists get it.
Thanks to all who realize that this industry is vital to the economic stability of these islands!
To those of you not on board: Get on board!
Get involved in helping to make this destination a number one priority where tourists want to visit.
Create the stores, restaurants, places to stay, and attractions neccessary for our islands to remain competitive!
Thank you Premier Smith, for all you did to revitalize and stabilize the industry for the benefit of the good of this country!
I would suggest those that are really interested in this should take the time to speak with and listen to the actual cruise ship passengers who visit our shores…before planning more ships to visit there are a whole lot of essential improvements necessary first…those I have spoken to have always been impressed with our natural beautiful beaches however a common theme is the negative experience they have had with rip off taxi drivers, appalling roads, smells of raw sewage, dirty rubbish strewn roads, many abandoned cars and unfortunately a less than friendly experience in shops….
100% agree – the cruise ship passengers are important for our economy but lets not pretend that they are desperate to return once they have visited – sadly many I’ve chatted too haven’t exactly been desperate to return for much the same reasons…I feel slightly torn as I love CGB as it is and tend to avoid the area when the cruise ship passengers are in! but we do need to clean up the place, get rid of the abandoned cars and fix the roads and sewage problems….whether we have more visitors or not…
Here is where not having a vision or a unifying plan gets in the way. Should the Territory be a cruise ship destination or should it cater to high end tourists who rent charter boats and or villas for a week or ten days. The former are like fast food. They come here, they overwhelm places with their numbers but only for a day, they see, they move on. They might or might not come back, and they don’t spend much on our shore. As such, they tend to see less of our dirty little secrets. They are the low hanging fruit. Profitability depends mainly on turnover. The latter are here for longer, spend more money in restaurants, food stores, taxis, etc but they’re seeking uncrowded places and tranquillity. Many return, sometimes across generations, for years, and take an interest in the Territory. Profitability here comes from good experiences and services. They have the potential to be the entire orchard if one is willing to do the work. Either way, BVIs need to clean up their act, literally and figuratively. People in general don’t like to be treated rudely, and they generally would prefer not to have to deal with the eyesores here. Many even feel uncomfortable when they find they can’t recycle like they do art home. What exactly, if anything, does the BVI know about its tourists, why they come here, and what cam be done to keep them coming back.
I don’t believe the BVIs can have more cruise ships and hope to increase long term visitors at the same time. Increasing cruise ship traffic makes the Territory beholden to cruise ship companies. Increasing long term visitors would not come with that burden.
Does the BVI government receive a set amount from the cruise ship docking? If so, do you know what that amount is?