Tourists have nothing to do! Other islands eating our lunch — Fraser
Deputy Premier Julian Fraser has expressed frustration over the lack of engaging activities for tourists arriving in the territory.
During the budget debate in the House of Assembly yesterday, Fraser painted a vivid picture of visitors wandering aimlessly with little to do after disembarking from cruise ships.
“When you see some days ago I went out by the cruise ship… I was amazed at the size of those ships,” Fraser recounted. “Then those people get off the ships… and they’re walking around like wandering Jews. There’s nothing to do, there’s nothing to see”.
The veteran legislator emphasised the urgent need to restore historical sites and create attractions that align with the expectations of tourists who read about the territory’s history before arriving. He suggested restoring iconic sites, such as the historic Thornton House, which he said could become a major draw with proper planning and investment.
“It’s not just the structure itself, but the area where it sits can be amalgamated with the structure to form a real tourism attraction,” he said, urging the government to invest in restoration efforts.
The rest of the Caribbean eating our lunch
Fraser compared the BVI’s tourism offerings to those of neighbouring Caribbean islands, pointing out that other countries, such as St. Kitts and St. Vincent, are outpacing the BVI by developing modern accommodations and inclusive environments. “The rest of the Caribbean eating our lunch,” he lamented. He also warned that the BVI risks being left behind without significant investment in its tourism infrastructure.
Fraser also highlighted the inadequate state of the roads leading to popular areas, calling out specific issues in his district. He explained that efforts to repair these roads would be futile without addressing underlying problems such as poor drainage systems.
“The drainage situation along the Drake’s Highway in Sea Cows Bay is atrocious. It’s non-functional. All the culverts are blocked,” he said. Fraser warned that any attempts to resurface the road without fixing these issues would result in the asphalt deteriorating within two years.
The Deputy Premier stressed the importance of adopting a holistic approach to enhance the territory’s appeal, including better roadways, upgraded facilities, and carefully planned attractions. He urged the government to focus on creating a more dynamic and competitive tourism product.
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I agree. But wandering…. slip of the tongue. high chance he’s canceled.
YEP…Big Big BooBoo! OUCH
When you don’t know better and you should…
His comment is being taken out of context. The “wandering Jews” of biblical times who didn’t know where to go. Quite appropriate.
I see some of them wandering into the hills. We dont even have side walks & side steps paved for them to go on a walking tour.
That’s what I BEEN saying! Sand and sea is not enough. The dinosaurs in charge won’t take their heads out their own behinds. Time for the new generation to take over.
Yep, and the old heads won’t allow anything to happen unless they get a piece. And we all know how good they are with money! They’re holding the country back when they can’t get their way. Petty.
Actually it’s the young heads spoiling it
Every Caribbean island has sun, sand and sea. We use to be ahead in it but that’s a goner.
Actually people that vacation to the Caribbean prefer to jet ski, and do other water related things. There is nothing in the BVI for the tourist to do. Then you got the ones who complain about the only thing the tourist spend on is a drink. What do you expect for them to do when there is really nothing to spend money on?
Like the Kartel concert? That’s what the young generation thinks is a great idea! Pure nonsense!
The Kartel concert is everyday? Use your brain! See this is exactly what I’m talking about.
When helpful and meaningful suggestions are made to the powers that BE, they will never implement but slap on the wrist and say “yea we hear you, good suggestion” and nothing..of course there is nothing to do, get out ur dam ac office, take a look, implement suggestions and take credit even if its not yours but hey..another day in PaRaDiSe right
Only now Fraser noticing that the tourists walk around aimlessly through Road Town with nothing to do? This has been going on endlessly. The lame leaders that governs don’t want foreign investors that is needed help improve our infrastructure. Keep everything Local, keep the money in the territory and limp along on a road leading to No Where. So Honourable Fraser now that it is evident to you that we are way behind in tourism activities “What are your intentions to improve the situation?” No five star hotels, no environmental improvements, sewage running on the roads, can’t get a handle on fixing the roads. I can go on but will it make a difference? I think not. Wake up my people, government is asleep at the wheel.
The Tourist is going to get bored and tired of spending their money to get to the BVI and there is nothing for them to do or nothing to entertain them. Going to the beach, walking around and riding around on bumpy pot holes and getting slap and scrape up by bushes is not going to get it.And please don’t forget the man that is always sitting on the park bench exposing himself. That is my opinion.
If you’ve no roads, credible water ,sewage , electricity, waste disposal who’s going to invest look to yourselves the HOA for the answers stop exploiting the budget for your own advantages and build credible infrastructure.
fraser is right, what is there to do here besides go to the beach, after a couple hours i want to go back to the ship. I have been on many cruises and the bvi is the place where i have done te least, there was nothing to do except go to the beach or take a long drive on crappy roads.
Frazer contributed to the block drains in Seaa ker bay by allowing all that reclamation in SEA COWS BAY “ harbor “
Same thing at POCK WOOD POND where the derelict vehicle a red stored —— Face the facts ( not offending any one —- BUT the water cannot go to the pond because that was filled in and the Ghut to the sea also blocked
So what happens in PWP stays in Pock wood pond
When Myron told us this years ago, the VIP none skulls starting cussing. Now look here.
The other islands are way ahead of us. I was in Antigua last week. It’s immaculate with a lot of really good restaurants and friendly, reasonably priced taxis, with helpful drivers. You don’t get held to ransom like you do at Beef Island airport.
Here in BVI we have chosen to go for a Haitian vibe instead, what with the puddles of sewage overflow opposite Vanterpool’s pharmacy! Nice!
I supposes that is what happens when you squander or steal the billions of dollars of revenue paid in since the late 1980’s. Oh well!
St. Thomas is eating our lunch when it comes to Tourism is because their Tourist Board is on point.There are so many things and attractions in St.Thomas for the Tourist to see and do. Go down to St.Thomas when the cruise ships are in port. When the cruise ships is in Tortola, the majority of Tourist stays on the ship.
They even have a tour boat that gives tours over to Epstein Island. It be packed with tourist.
The whole tourist board needs to be re vamped.
“Nothing to do” could become our biggest allure,if we do it right.
The beauty of Nature,wholesome cleanliness,beauty and orderliness,emphasis on organic and chemical free and culture . Top it all off with crime-free,safe polite.friendly and convenient Internet and phone access
Me personally, loathe noise,crowds standing in lines crowds when travel. A breath of Fresh Air is what I enjoy most.
Me,in my travels loathe the crowds,noise busy
What is StBarts winning strategy?
THIS COUNTRY LAKC VISIONA ND PROPER LEADERSHIP, POLITICIAN THESE DAYZ ABOUT MONEY IN THERE POCKETS
How about the taxi drivers who a head bound only to take the tourist to the beach only!
The taxi drivers fully well know about other attractions but illiteratelly refuses to talk and carry the tourist to other places!!
And people at Tourist Board getting paid $80K to do what?!?!
Fraser, welcome back. You’ve been asleep far too long. These historical sites should be well-maintained. However, you’re correct. Look at the current situation: residents can’t even drive around the island due to poor road conditions and blockages. What kind of tour are tourists getting? You all should be ashamed to call yourselves a government. The leader travels and lives a high-end life funded by taxpayers, with no results.This is unfair to the people and visitors of these beautiful islands. The government interference and reluctance to seek outside professional help prevent us from getting things done properly. We are further behind than we know all other british overseas territories are way ahead of us.
When he says “eating our lunch” it’s because they paid for the lunch. We are so entitled, we expect it for free – with dessert!
And – “wandering Jews”! How can this id**t be taken seriously.
jet ski’s illegal here motorcycles over 150cc illegal here weed illegal here…look at st john and the following neighboring us islands for example they just as small as us but they doing big tings!!!!!!!!!!
Weed consumption and possession remain illegal in US VI. Check police blotter. Not a lot of jet skis there or places to rent big hogs. Most people who go to St. John go there to chill.
SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED OF THE REPETITIVE NARRATIVES COMING FROM LEARNED PERSONS WHO WERE VOTED IN TO HELP THIS COUNTRY. DO SOMETHING, LEAD, FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE WAY.
If we the people of these beautiful Virgin Islands change the way we think, “We can Change the World”.
I have been hearing this expression all my life. How come it has all of a sudden become taboo. The coward thin skin nature of BVI is a disgrace. What should be more concerning is the fact that everyone sees it and use it to their advantage. The truth is this is exactly why we are in the state of decline that presently exists. Selfish greedy thin skin morons running the country to a wreck.
if only he knew of someone who has been in a position of power for the last 20 years and could speak to them such that they could fix this malaise… Its like he just woke up from a 20 year snooze….
The other islands eating your lunch because instead of building thr economy and beautifying the country through its infrastructure tou all are more engaged in
A) Putting down each other
B) Cursing the white man
C) plotting how to get rid of people coming to live in the country
D) Disrespecting people of different nationalities
E) Hiding ideas from your own
F) Hating others when they prosper
G) Condoning wrong and injustice- looking the other when wrongs are not righted
H) Blaming everyone else and not welcoming others
That is why they would be eating your lunch
Yes they were enslaved too but they ate not using that not to progresx.
They do what needs to be done looking back does not help progress. Look forward
You have said it all and what should be said. I am 150,000% in agreement with your transparent comment.
Road closed detour everywhere
Horrible roads
The majority of you in the BVI that is in these positions be it political, or high level government positions will not be qualified or fit to hold the positions you are holding anywhere outside of the BVI.It amazes me how Fraser is just now realizing that there is nothing for the paying tourist to do. You all should be ashamed of yourselves for inviting people to visit the BVI. Mr. Fraser, would you invite tourist to pass through your District?knowing the deplorable condition your District is in?
Our degrees must be written on banana leaf. While others are written on gold. Nice Uncle Tom there. If you are a truthful person, you would say that the reason nothing gets changed around here is because the politicians are always in the way holding back progress.
Development must be birthed and focused through Pride, Progress & People.
The generation of 1949 knew this.
The Brigados and Robinson O’Neals. Knew this.
The elected of today appear focused on self enrichment, coupled with a deficit of integrity and moral hygiene, that died and were buried in the late forties and early fifties.
Some today view elected to PUBLICoffice as a prelude to thievery. So thinketh the many.
This and more my generation now sees, where an entire party’s only goal is/was to, allegedly, engage in financial confiscation and self-enrichment by way of political empowerment by the people.
Hence, some may be impervious to truth, does not make it a lie, nor should not be articulated by minds that can.
We lost our nation,its pride, integrity and moral political hygienewhen the last of the early political founders left for higher spiritual. pastures.
@EV
I wholehearted agree. The decline started in the late 1970’s and has continued apace ever since.
Cry the beloved country.
Roger Burnett
i think we should get the tourist to take turns combing fraser hair
Mr. Fraser please take your personal grooming seriously. Sorry mannnn, you are the Deputy Premier and you look unkept and dirty.
@My Gosh Go easy on the old guy. Start a “Go Fund Me” to buy him a mirror. It’s pretty clear he needs one.
St Marten #1. Baha #2. SK#3. St Thomas #4. S Lucia #5. JA #6 Ant #7. BBD #8. St Santo Domingo #9. Cayman’s #10.
Did Fraser say “wandering jews”? What does he mean by that? Also, what is the ski jump they are building in Sea Cows Bay? Another good example of poor BVI engineering.
They could pick up litter, clear the ghuts, pull the garbage out of water, help filter the sewage, fix the incinerator, Plant shrubs and trees in the pot holes, buy drugs through our scooter delivery system, rob a jewelry store, float some of the wrecks that have been there since before Irma, push some more dirt over the mangroves and grow the island, ask for permission to visit the beach at Peter Island, Norman Island, Oil Nut Bay, Little Diix Bay, fly to Miami and back in a day (we can do that now!), protest against wasting money on the airport, fix the docks at the Cruise Ship Port, Push the wires back into the electric boxes, fix the crosswalk lights, install paths and walkways in our Capitals shopping areas, start work to repair the Admin Complex, fix some of the derelict cars, cut bush, move rocks of the road, level the muddy parking areas, fix Vanterpools expensive car park lights, sign a petition for Government to pay for Taylor Swift and Beyonce to do a concert, clean the streets, right a poem about how beautiful Road Town is, right a review for Trip advisor, help people to park cars and get out of parking spaces when they are blocked in, work out why the guy who wasted 6 million on getting no greenhouses gets honoured with a park named after him, work out where our airplanes went, where the sewage works money went, find our missing $20,000,000 and find where all the money that went into the Pier Park is buried, help Ronnie Skelton get through airport security, help out at the hospital, try to find one of the buses from our transport system, disaster tour through Prospect Reef or the QE11 Park, or along our land filled coasts, broken truck and car spotting in the bush, finish Fraser and brothers landfill projects, go sit and watch HOA in action!!! Get one of our now famous VI haircuts, Fraser style.
CONGRATULATIONS BuzzBvi You have won BVI News Comment of the Year! – Your prize awaits you, a staycation at stopathome!
Sit back, relax and enjoy the view from your favourite pothole and think of the good old days when Action Man got the job done!
It takes one fool and then the flock of brainwashed sheep follow.You can never hold a sensible conversation always find some bulls**t to go off on a tangent. Weak scrambled brains.
THAT WAS FUNNY BUT IF START TO BRING THE FACTS TO US THE PEOPLE , YHEN HE HINE TO HAVE TO WATCH HIS REAR END / BECAUSE THE ” BIG youth ” – DO NOT ATOLERATE INSURBORDINATION AND WE ALL SAW HOW HE FLEXED OFF ON THE LADY
I love how the engineer has become a tourism expert! Smh
Most of you have no clue what tourism is or what the tourists actually want. Most of you just want to copy whatever St Thomas doing without knowing that our product that makes us desirable is nothing like anywhere else. So why should we be like everywhere else? Our tourist don’t want any darn jet skis. You know tourist spend $1000 a night to stay in rooms with no tv and no radio? They come here to relax and unwind. Do you know that we have the highest number of guests come back to the VI year after year? More than anywhere else in the Caribbean? There is a reason for that. They like that we are laid back and chill. We do need to do better with having lil shows at dinner places and more authentic food and drinks and music. We are focusing too heavily on cruise ship tourists who don’t spend anywhere they go and put stress on our infrastructure.
Oh no Fraser you don’t run this ship, sowandie does, and parties and travel is priority, did you see how he paid Vybz Kartel in advance? Know your place, that was Lorna mistake was to cross the floor betraying a change of government in its infancy and was objective, you don’t get objective at all or else.
What was Mr. Irrelevant seeing before he penned his observations. It irks me very much when people like him suddenly loses the scales from their eyes and sees what’s sorely needed.
Stop vote for egotistical people. Retire thief prehistoric whatever, he doesn’t worth the cheese he’s fed.
For me it was when he say how big the ships are, wtf!
Wife and I went to Anegada for 16 years,month each time,loved it, fishing,swiming,snorkeling,walking the beach and the best was the PEOPLE who were great!!They were born there and we loved them,now you have people from the states who ruined it!
Funny thing is this man been the representative for that district while in and out of government and you ain’t see NONE change in Sea Cows Bay. Can’t throw stones and then hide your hand.