I have been coming to the Virgin Islands for more than 30 years and have kept my sailboat, Merlin, in the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour. I read with great interest the essay written by Xyrah Wheatley, the St. George’s Secondary School student who was the territory’s senior division finalist in the recent Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association essay contest. It is brilliant.
I am chairman of the board of directors of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce in Massachusetts. We have 2,000 members, and I am going to share the essay with them.
I believe Ms. Wheatley has captured the right direction for increasing tourism. Visitors come to the VI because it is unique. If they wanted waterslides or big hotels, they would go somewhere else.
Please follow her advice. Ecotourism is what people are looking for today. You still need controlled development. We all need the jobs and revenue. But as Ms. Wheatley states, preserve and protect and be proud of where you live. I have sailed all the islands of the Caribbean, and VG is my favorite.
I also should declare that I own and operate hotels and restaurants on Cape Cod and make my living from tourists.