Upbeat! VG businessman talks tourism on the sister island
With the number of active COVID-19 cases in the BVI down to zero, at least one local tourism stakeholder on Virgin Gorda is now upbeat about seeing a boost in tourism pretty soon.
Businessman Allington ‘Gumption’ Creque who owns and operates Sea It Clear glass bottom tour said the past year has been tough. He’s paid more than $26,000 in refunds between March 26, 2020 and two weeks ago.
But having secured a handful of bookings and done a few odd tours to stay afloat, he said the tourism landscape for himself and other Virgin Gorda businesses has been ‘reasonable’ in recent times.
Here’s how he put it: “Things went from red (which represents no business at all), to yellow, and now going green. You can see green coming … It’s pretty fair. And with the BVI not having any active cases, that can be a big advantage to us as well.”
Creque said he hopes to become fully operational by March 20 and he feels very optimistic about the future.
Keeping afloat
As for keeping his business afloat, the young businessman said the few tours he has been able to do was possible because of both visitors and local customers.
“Some people are still cancelling while some people are still booking so any booking right now is important,” he explained, adding that local tourism businesses — especially those on Virgin Gorda — form an interconnected network.
“These people (visitors and tourism consumers) are staying somewhere, they’re renting somebody’s car to get to me, they’re eating at somebody’s restaurant, they’re catching somebody’s taxi, they’re catching somebody’s ferry to get to Virgin Gorda … and I’m very grateful,” Creque said.
The reality
A number of local tourism-related businesses have closed their doors, while others have been employing alternative strategies as they try to stay afloat amid the closure of the seaports – which account for the majority of the BVI’s tourist arrivals.
Just recently, Nanny Cay Marina established a creative way to attract business by circumventing the current closure of the territory’s sea borders.
Last year, taxi operators started offering delivery services to locals when tourist arrivals were cut off due to the full border closure of the territory.
Local hotels and resorts also started offering ‘staycations’ at reduced costs to attract locals to their business and stay afloat amid the trying times.
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Most tourist businesses are totally screwed. Don’t kid yourselves.
All tourism businesses are on life support. Don’t kid yourselves. Unless they have cash reserves, they are going to close. Government is no help to any.
This is a fight for survival plain and simple.
This story is total bulls**t. Just like the charter companies advertising that all is well and they have many bookings. The reality is maybe one or 2 boats chartered a week between ALL the charter companies. Yes people are inquiring about coming because they are getting vaccinated in their home countries but once they hear that the protocol remains the same in the Territory the reply is always the same. It’s “Thanks, maybe next year”. Good luck trying to get these people back.
Go sit down. Tourism isn’t working. People are losing their livelihoods and families are being destroyed because our government isn’t being proactive. When is the last time government even discussed their plans with regards to tourism with stakeholders? Anyone out purporting that tourism is ok right now is probably a crony. At the very least they’re part of the problem and not part of the solution. Reinforcing this “it’s ok” attitude is not ok.
Gumption please go sit the h**l down. You talk to much about things you don’t understand. I am happy that you are progressing but you need to understand a lot more about the national economy. And for peace sake stop up and down videoing and taking pictures of V***+*t. Two of you all sickening now.
What is this guy smoking.
His belly full of koolaid.
As the owner of a small business, Mr. Creque will have received aid from the Government. I am glad for him, and for other small businesses who received help.
The reality is that tourism is close to shut down on the sister islands. Yes, there are a handful of people braving the protocols to come to the islands, but the majority are delaying their trip to the BVI until 2022. I am surprised more businesses have not closed their doors.
Those in tourism are lucky if they have a couple of days work per week. So many are laid off. People and businesses are hurting badly, and I am sorry to say, there is no end in sight until the people both here and abroad get vaccinated. Then maybe the protocols for travelers will be further relaxed across the world.
don’t kid yourself –they will have a new excuse when people are vaccinated. They keep moving the goal posts.
2 ah branson limas
LMFAOOOO
We have a house booked for May but have to make a decision on traveling by March to get a refund. We all have our vaccine and would love to come visit but with the 4 day quarantine still in place we have to reconsider and will most likely switch our plans to an island without the quarantine. We would gladly test and do everything else that is asked of us, but staying in our house for 4 of our 6 days doesn’t make sense.
Keeping a hopeful eye on the news!
USVI OPEN
Just do a fundraiser if you want money!
He went from red to yellow to green because he’s contracted by his district rep to follow him up and down taking pictures and videos. How many people have this opportunity? Struupes!!!! Take several seats Sir!
Paid advertisement. Not interested in what you are saying is it’s far from reality miles from the truth,,,, Stop it,
BVI depend on tourism to sustain their economy and I am not seeing the government doing anything to boost this industry. St. Thomas is taking over all BVI charter boats and they are booming with tourist right now. They are not saying much about tourism in the BVI look how many persons are laid off.
I wondered how long it would take to see realistic comments from BVI. As a tourist that was supposed to visit in 2020 and tried again for this year, all that I saw from watching these articles and comments was how all the tourist were bringing death to the islanders. Interestingly, most comments showed a racial component blaming white people. NOW, the dismal reality of no real income and failed government promises. The people seem to be waking up to the reality of their financial dependence of outside tourism. If you were to visit other locations you would see how the world is carrying on. It’s the government and media perpetuating an apocalyptic narrative. I’m an American, have been working all this past year, had a short flu like illness last June for 3 days, my live is mostly back to normal. Especially as I lay here in my Hotel bed in Mexico while on vacation. You BVI’ers need to wake up and realize who’s really killing your island and people!