Valid concerns by water taxis and fast ferries, Premier says
BVI water taxi and ferry operators have warned that increased operational costs and mounting competition from foreign vessels and charter companies are threatening their survival.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley acknowledged the concerns raised by local operators, noting that his government is aware of the impact of increased air traffic and shifting tourism patterns.
“I saw the document that was circulating, speaking about the concerns of the water taxis,” he said during a recent press conference. “I do think there were some valid concerns in the document.”
In a letter dated February 17, 2025, that was addressed to Dr Wheatley, water transport operators outlined the challenges they face, citing a drop in revenue due to six daily direct flights from Miami to the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport. “Most persons are opting for the direct flights to Beef Island,” the letter stated, arguing that this shift has reduced demand for ferry services between the BVI and the neighbouring US Virgin Islands (USVI).
The operators also raised concerns about BVI-based charter companies and hotels running their own water taxi services, as well as USVI-based captains and vessels conducting pick-ups and drop-offs within BVI waters. “USVI Captains and vessels conducting water taxi pickups and drop-offs throughout the BVI” are taking away business from licensed local operators, they wrote.
The Premier indicated that the government is willing to meet with the affected businesses. “We will meet with them,” he said without specifying a discussion timeline.
The operators have put forward several recommendations, including capping daily flights from the US to three, enforcing strict port-of-entry regulations for foreign vessels, and limiting the ability of charter companies and hotels to operate their own transport services. “If these companies continue to monopolise the industry, over 50 years of our ancestors’ toil would be destroyed,” the letter warned.
Dr Wheatley, however, pointed to the government’s broader strategy of reducing reliance on USVI-based air routes. “When we develop our airport, we anticipate that more traffic would be coming through Beef Island rather than going through the United States Virgin Islands,” he explained. “Most persons can see that it’s actually a national security concern as well, that we don’t want to have to rely on anybody else’s airport to support our tourism industry.”
Water transport operators countered that the government’s policies have left them struggling. “Local operators will be forced out of business and will have to close their doors permanently,” the letter stated. They argued that small, locally owned businesses are being squeezed out of the market by large multinational companies.
According to the letter, the industry employs more than 250 people. Operators are calling for urgent intervention to prevent job losses and ensure that revenues stay within the local economy.
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If the operators are complaining that they are under threat due to direct flights to BVI, how is the premier’s response that soon we will have a bigger airport for more flights, the solution. Doesn’t that enhance the problem?
Second, let the boat operators act like toyz r us. If you do not learn how to move with the times and improve your product offerings, your business will soon become obsolete. It is not rocket science. Get a new strategy and stop complaining. Do we know what the word ‘monopoly’really means?
Finally, the USVI need to stop freeloading off the BVI waters. I do not know on what planet the Premier was on when he decided to give them free reign. Now their governor on an entitlement cloud as if he dealing with a set of children to be telling the bvi legislature what to do and how to make their laws. Unreal and very confusing.
So their business model is to ignore what the Customer(tourist) wants and finds most convenient , aln instead help them to continue to price gouge and make getting to the BVI the longest and most time wasting venture, ok … got it!!!
Ferries are to blame for their own soon to be demise with their short sighted thinking and greed. Dont let them fool you, they are being subsisided by the BVI government so even when they are not many passengers they still make money. And they have never passed on that saving to you the tax payer. Just look at the ferry from Red Hook to St John Cruz Bay $6.00 for adult Kids under 11 $1.00 and kids under 2 FREE. BVI ferry from Red Hook to west end which is an additional 10 min from Cruz Bay …$72 one way —- there is something seriously wrong with this picture.
Very good comment I wish I could like 1000 times very good comment.
A serious problem from the perspective of customer is the Ferry operators charging for bags where historically this was not done and moreover the total cost of ferry travel. Driving up the cost of ferry travel in this manner hurts their industry. If the margin between flights and ferry travel into the BVI are too narrow people will always choose flying. Ferry operators must reduce their fees in order to compete that’s just how it is
I am very happy with the Direct Flights into Beef Island, so who do these operators think they are, to deprive us of that service. There are always changes in life so go and adjust. It’s bad enough we don’t have a decent public bus service on the island because it might hurt the taxi industry.
Sorry I ain’t sorry, the departure tax was supposedly to be paid by ferry companies. However, instead of enforcing delinquent payments they gave passengers an extra fee. Every dog has its day.
the ferries can’t even run on schedule too many times we’re at the terminal 30 minutes after departure time and not a word or apology for the delay. That’s inexcusable knowing most your passengers are trying to catch a flight out. If you fly out on vacation why would you catch public transit when your hotel offers complimentary pick up or can get a private uber?
This really is a tough one, if and when the BVI airport is enlarged, and, more airlines start to operate directly to the US, the need for ferries may virtually disappear. The sad reality is no business or industry is owed a living particularly at the expense of the greater general public, what the USVI governor is doing has no relevance whatsoever on this particular subject. There are no good answers.
Capping flights would be the dumbest thing to consider,we jus getting in the game.
So there proposed solution is The operators have put forward several recommendations, including capping daily flights from the US to three
I’m afraid the operators need to move with the times. It is a fact that as we move forward with airport expansion and more direct flights from the US there will be less need for the overpriced water taxis. They’ve had it good for too long and there is no way we should restrict our growth and advancement just so that they can continue to fill their pockets.
I just tried to book the direct flight and the cheapest fare was $1200. Not everyone can afford that especially when you can fly into STT for less than $400! Ferry operators are killing their golden goose because of bad service and inefficiency. Sort out the problems involved with the ferry transport system and the goose will lay again.
There are much cheaper flight prices than that, you just have to plan accordingly.
Some of the charter companies built their business on the water taxi business and this is why they are hurting. The government isn’t going to try and stop the six flights because you want them to, look for other business.
There are far more water taxis operating from BVI waters. That industry ballooned after COVID as ferries can’t and won’t adjust their schedules to match incoming and outgoing tourists.
I sure hope Gov Bryan doesn’t hit BVI water taxis with entry fees. If so, expect another $100 per day. Ouch
Water taxis in the BVI enjoyed a growth spurt when the pandemic ended. That spurt is over due to 6 flights a day from Miami and the tightening of BVI border security by the police.
There will always be tension between BVI and USVI water taxis due to the commercial clearing in and out process for each colony.
BVI resorts operate taxi buses for their guests land transport so they must also operate water taxis for their guests sea transport.
Its the HOSPITALITY business! Adjust to change or go out of business.
The ferry companies need to be threatened as they have run a cartel for many years providing horrible, over-priced services operating under the protection of the Government. Open the market up to real competition and the winners will be the passengers. We are seeing this already with minimal competition from the regular AA flights. They would rather we are forced to spend $200 and untold hours, delays and shocking service/treatment getting to STT to keep their business going. Not good enough!!
all these water taxi operators apperared after covid and a lot of them are allegedly running drugs how else would they suddenly get money for $1/2million boats?
They charge a fortune for 40minutes and now want protected, its a private company so its a private matter no need for the government to get involved. If they broke they can see their boats.
USVI vessels are limited to 7 pickups in the BVI per year. If that’s killing your business, time to revisit the business model.
We decline to agree with or accept the terms of the current economic warfare being waged against our fellow brothers and sisters in the VI.
Yes,the are two great answers to the problem Mr. Premier, VI.
Stop the GREED AND SELFISHNESS Mr. Governor, USVI.
Of course such will never happen, so the BVI must exercise her natural right to seek and obtain parity with her neighbors and extended family.
It was not long ago we fed, clothe and provided funds for each other. I remember clearly the vibrant trade that occurred between the two islands or people.
But as time went by, the divide and conquer of the people became paramount so that all trade tried up and, so the ywt American could move down, set up shop and control the money flow.
Hence, the problems, due to a new generation of people, who have been disconnected from our recent past and ancestral connections, as a result, are division, greed, entitlement, economic and political hegemony over the VI dictated by the US ywt over the VI.
Therefore, economic fairness and fair competetion are no longer features of our language and landscape.
Tariffs, economic weapons of destruction are now weapons of the heartless. Sanctions, coming soon, will be the final tool of economic destruction for our VI’S.
A thinking mind would even suggest that there may be a larger sinister plot on the international political level between the UK and US to tighten the economic screws on the VI to hasten its demise, and bring to a halt her present economic status, render her an economic status similar to that of Haiti.
Which will provide then, the excuse for a full UK colonial take over. We must be therefore vigilent with and stare our course while being consciousof the ways of evil minds.
This sounds like Wiggy on too much something. This has nothing to do with white people, who are just the paying customers. The politicians in both territories are black. There is no reason the co-operation of years past cannot continue. Let’s hope they meet and saner minds prevail.
“Most persons are opting for the direct flights to Beef Island,”
And this is a bad thing how? Do people realize that as a business owner and/or investor it is your duty to pivot and stay on top of your game? So, because people are hell bent on running ferries from here to St. Thomas we should not extend the Airport?
This is probably the real reason it has not been expanded from before. ridiculous
According to the letter, the industry employs more than 250 people. Operators are calling for urgent intervention to prevent job losses and ensure that revenues stay within the local economy.
…and extending the airport will create more than 2,500 jobs, temporary and permanent with the investment in hotels etc., airlines, airport support staff etc. that will come with it. Are we going to be a forever backward people who just talk talk talk all day long? Let’s keep the entire country back because the boats may not get a lot of business. You know what is ironic and funny here? Many of these same water taxis priced their trips outside the reach of even the middle class local because they wanted to quick tourist dollar. If they met locals in the middle perhaps they would’ve had a consistent market outside of the tourists. Any real business person would’ve considered these things but COVID presented a temporary uptick and everyone saw it as a real business. Chickens coming………
Allegedly this is a tactic by some business people St.Thomas to turn the ferries against the BVI Government and stop our personal economic growth. Putting our people’s face in front and even their Governor.
They have options. They could ask the government to keep C&I open later, so they could offer later ferries to serve later-arriving flights. They could offer service from Trellis Bay to Jost and Anegada. They could offer more frequent service on smaller boats. No one cares if your old business model no longer works.
They can drop the prices and have FULL loads to BVI for day trips .Ever seems the hundreds going to ST John every hour on the hour? they are greedy and myopic in the thinking.
Ferries need to bring back 1995 prices and give them hell.
They want to eliminate the compition? Sounds like they want to monopolise the industry, not the other way around
I demand that all meat be banned so my vegan shop can survive
they need to grow up and adapt