Tourist Board hires PR firm in bid to expand into European market
The BVI Tourist Board (BVITB) announced that it has contracted public relations and marketing firm AVIAREPS to expand the territory’s presence in the European marketplace; particularly the Nordic region.
This, it said, was in an attempt at consolidating its presence in other established markets.
The Board, in a recent media release, said it had been following through on a mandate from Premier Andrew Fahie to have one agency with the “optimal combination of public relations, travel trade connections and expert knowledge of the markets to represent the territory in multiple European markets”.
The Board’s expansion push comes amid a year-long global COVID-19 pandemic that has resulted in a severe downturn in global travel and has seen a spate of tourist-related business closures and staff layoffs across the territory.
Last year, the BVITB sought a crisis management consultant to help reboot the tourism industry amid the pandemic. The initial contract was expected to last for six months, starting June 1. It is unclear whether the post had been filled.
Intimate knowledge
Meanwhile, Director of Tourism Clive McCoy said the Board is excited to work with AVIAREPS to extend the BVI’s reach.
“We’re impressed with the fact that they (AVIAREPS) rely on a network of staff and associates that are not only expert marketers but also have an intimate local knowledge of their respective markets. That is the reason why we are excited to work with AVIAREPS to further penetrate the European markets and expand into the Nordic countries.”
AVIAREPS is being touted as one of the world’s leading sales, marketing & communications agencies for travel and lifestyle brands, and according to the BVITB, will provide public relations and marketing representation in Italy, France, French-speaking Switzerland and the Nordic region (Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland).
The Tourist Board has not said how much the BVI is spending for the marketing company’s services.
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I wonder if they know about the super top secret covert tourism marketing plan.
Wait, there’s a plan?
Yes there is a plan; every tourist gets a free lunch valued at $20,00 to visit our beautiful shores! Book fast whilst offering last! Make sure to use our promo code #BVILOST. TADAH
The plan is to increase the “white tax” upon entry to the Territory. Remember the fee for damage to the environment. Oh wait…how did I damage anything as I haven’t been here before. By the way what is that stink and smoke coming from. Lmfao
Tourism plan is as follows:
1. Make it as difficult and expensive as possible to come to the BVI.
2. Spend $$$$$ to get the 1% of people worldwide that are willing to and capable of jumping through hoops in step 1.
3. Declare victory and run.
3. Provide surly service, making sure that vistitors feel unwelcome.
4. Charge fees to arrive, fees to stay, fees to leave, import duty on any consumables they may bring with them.
Spend the cash on cleaning up the trash round here.
Nothing new. They just added the other countries. Was hired years ago for the Italian market
Sooo….
Read that article carefully. Tourism is hiring a CRISIS MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT. That means
1. Tourism is at a crisis stage – we already know that
2. The folks at the Tourist Board have no effin clue how to fix things – we have known that
3. BVI has completely lost its tourism market share to US visitors and we have to look elsewhere
Two seasons lost and we have to ask others for help (expat). Sounds familiar.
Carry on
ISN’T ANYONE ON THIS HOLY LAND THAT CAN DO IT ? ?
Nope
Remove restrictions to enter BVI Otherwise this is a waste.
Pure f**king laziness. Disband the board and get a consultant to do the work and paid based on proven deliverables. BVITB spends over $10 mil annually, on what? Doing what? The private sector in the tourism space are the ones doing the real heavy lifting.
Pure BS… Has any of the marketing firms ever done an amazing job for the BVI, even a mediocre job? NO… It is just a money grab! First and foremost you have to have something fantastic to promote. The BVI is okay BUT NOT GREAT nor Fabulous because….. especially, no infrastructure, not clean, sewer running in the streets, water problem for its citizens, not friendly, no police presence and now crime taking over. You can not build a house on a sand foundation…………
But apart from that it’s great and fabulous….
What exactly is the job description of the Tourist Board and it’s employees? What do they do at work?
They go to other countries to promote the BVI.
Paid to travel, vacation, and spend YOUR tax dollars.
another wild goose chase
Meanwhile there are 340 million potential tourists looking across from St John going WTF…
Ill help out – Your honorable, protector of finances, keeper of the chalice and Lion of the caribean Fahie.
1. Extend runway to accommodate bigger planes
2. Build and fund proper hospital
3. Fix roads
4. Fix sewers
5. Step aside and let the business folks do their thing.
Go home, buy a coloring book and new Escalade and just watch the money roll in.
“Meanwhile there are 340 million potential tourists looking across from St John going WTF…”
Man, that place is overpopulated! Such a small island has that many people?
I have a boat at the BVI and no one wanted to come so had to move it to USVI. Totally booked so said for the BVI your leaders are idiots…sorry Covid is fake
USVI tourism would like to thank Mr Fahie – Thank you sir, you are doing a spectacular job for USVI tourism. Please never change a thing. We thank you from the bottom of our green lined pockets.
Had to move my sail Yacht to the USVI and totally booked now. I couldn’t get anyone to come to the BVI if it was free. Fahie is the worst ever to happen to the BVI and all the other Island laughs at him and thanks him at the same time.
Yup we are killing it!
We will be glad to recommend the BVI to our European clients as soon as the trash all over the islands is cleaned up, the infra structure improves, the sewage stops flowing in the streets, the motor scooters are gone, the smugglers are all in jail, the murders stop, all the illegal guns are impounded by the police, etc. etc.
Nature’s little secret
Shhhh
HEYYYYY, SORRY BVI, NOTHING PERSONAL JUST BUSINESS. THANK YOU FOR THE BUSINESS. CAR RENTALS, BOOKED OUT, HOTELS, BOOKED OUT. CHARTER COMPANIES, BOOKED OUT. TAXI MEN AND WOMEN DOING GOOD. WE THANK AND APPRECIATE THE TOURIST FOR HELPING US TO KEEP BREAD ON OUR TABLES. WE ARE JUST WAITING FOR THE CRUISE SHIPS TO ARRIVE AFTER JULY. AGAIN, THANK YOU BVI.
How about being open, when all of Europe takes their Vacations (July to September).
Orlando does not close. Why does the BVI?
Because it’s the BVI‘s and they are smarter than anyone else……
What happened to BVI LOVE, wasn’t lots of money spent on that great idea?
One global agency for all Europe? OMG…Does BVITB really understand Europe? But what about Germany?
U think traveling here is cheap
Uh… just open the BVI back up and let the tourist fill your pockets again. who the h**l going to come to a place with all these restrictions portal crap quarantine fees. USVI hasn’t died from covid so what the h**l is BVI worried about.. the only thing USVI is worried about is where to stuff all the money they making since bvi closed.