Yacht show
The Bitter End Yacht Club is to begin hosting the first BVI Yacht Brokerage Showcase today at its North Sound, Virgin Gorda facility. Organisers expect more than 50 vessels, including monohulls, catamarans, powerboats and sailboats, according to a press release from BEYC. In addition to yacht viewing, BEYC plans to host seminars on delivery, shipping, contracting and yacht management during the four-day event, the release stated.
Taiwanese visas
In a statement issued last week, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith announced that government will no longer require most Taiwanese visitors to the territory to obtain a visa. “Effective immediately, visas are no longer required for Taiwanese passport holders who wish to visit the BVI for less than six months as tourists, family visitors, business travellers and student visitors,” Dr. Smith said in the statement. The move is designed to boost the number of Asian visitors to the territory, and will allow the VI and Taiwan “to explore other economic and cultural opportunities,” Dr. Smith said. The VI is the 125th jurisdiction to grant visa-free entry or landing visas to Taiwan passport holders, he said.
Port ID cards
BVI Ports Authority officials will begin requiring businesspeople who access the territory’s ports to obtain an identification card from the authority beginning on Sunday. Applicants for the cards will be required to present two forms of identification, a sponsorship letter, and a company identification letter to BVIPA officials, according to a press release from the authority. Applicants will be charged a $25 processing fee for the cards.