The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development has cancelled the six remaining public meetings on a planned national tourism policy, replacing them with “target focus group sessions” that have …
May 1, 2025
January 24, 2025
Summit to inform tourism plan
After Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley called for a “shared vision” last Thursday at the first Virgin Islands Tourism Summit, Shereen Flax-Charles had a question. “What are the plans to balance …
January 9, 2025
Throne speech pegged to plan
The first Speech from the Throne in two years emphasised the elected government’s determination to push ahead with the six broad goals laid out in the territory’s National Sustainable Development …
December 5, 2024
Lobster, music and fun in Anegada
A record number of restaurants took part in the 12th annual Anegada Lobster Festival over the weekend, drawing praise from enthusiastic visitors despite attendance that participants said was down from …
November 15, 2024
Tourism manual coming soon
One of the first roads in the Virgin Islands stretched from the Chalwell junction to Windy Hill, and it was called the “paved walk” because it was composed of stones …
October 28, 2024
Study probes cruise sector in region
A preliminary economic study examining the cruise industry’s impacts in the Caribbean will be presented this week at a conference in St. Maarten, according to Communications and Works Minister Kye …
September 9, 2024
First-half tourism record driven by cruise ships
The first six months of 2024 set a tourism record, bringing the most visitor arrivals of any first half in Virgin Islands history and causing Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley …
Continue reading “First-half tourism record driven by cruise ships”
May 31, 2024
Small crowds, big cheers at music fest
Dancing concertgoers crowded the stage in hopes of touching Jamaican dancehall performer Alkaline early Sunday morning at the Virgin Islands Music Festival. It was a high point for the three-day …
May 24, 2024
Cruise executives promise more calls
Government has continued to embrace record-breaking cruise tourism numbers, giving cruise lines no “indication that they have reached their limit” in the territory, according to Communications and Works Minister Kye …
May 3, 2024
August Festival to mark 70 this year
There will be much to celebrate during this year’s August Emancipation Festival. “We’re celebrating not just the 70th anniversary of Festival, but we’re celebrating 190 years of emancipation, 190 years …
February 19, 2024
Tourism plan promised this year
After more than a decade of delays, a national tourism plan is in the works and will be completed by the end of this year, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley …
February 15, 2024
Free app offers tips for tourists
A free smartphone application designed to help tourists navigate the territory’s attractions was launched this month through a partnership between the BVI Chamber of Commerce and the publisher of its …
December 15, 2023
Air rally touches down in Virgin Islands
For the first time since 2016, organised waves of private planes descended onto Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport last week, completing the second leg of this year’s Governor General’s Caribbean …
November 22, 2023
Brokers from around the world
A bit of rain couldn’t keep members of the Virgin Islands’ boating community away from one of their industry’s biggest events this month. The BVI Charter Yacht Society held its …
October 8, 2023
What to expect for Anegada Lobster Fest 2023
Foodies and lovers of Virgin Islands culture can mark their calendars for the 11th Anegada Lobster Festival running Nov. 24-26, which is featuring a record 12 restaurants this year. But …
Continue reading “What to expect for Anegada Lobster Fest 2023”
September 28, 2023
Long-delayed tourism plan stalled for now
In March 2022, Cabinet decided to award a $1.9 million contract to a New York-based firm to create the national tourism plan that successive governments had been promising for more …
Continue reading “Long-delayed tourism plan stalled for now”
June 12, 2023
VI welcomes direct flights
Just before 1:30 p.m. on June 1, crowds gathered at the upper-floor lounge at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, pressing up against the windows facing the tarmac. Anticipation built as …
March 3, 2023
Revamped Wreck Week returns
BVI Scuba Organisation President Kim Huish and educators from Green VI were busy leading students from Ivan Dawson Primary School as they combed the beach at Cane Garden Bay for …
January 20, 2023
Early arrival numbers up 42%
Tourist arrivals during November and December totalled 40,950, up about 42 percent from 28,857 in the same period in 2021, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley announced Friday in apparent reference …
August 16, 2022
Wreck Week to return next February
Hoping to highlight the Virgin Islands shipwrecks that draw divers from around the world, organisers are bringing back BVI Wreck Week next February. The event, which was last held in …
July 29, 2022
‘Tourism off-season is changing,’ premier says
After major hits to the tourism sector during the pandemic, the Virgin Islands is figuring out the best way forward in new circumstances under new leadership, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” …
Continue reading “‘Tourism off-season is changing,’ premier says”
April 14, 2022
Gun Creek centre reopens
The same contractor who originally built the Captain Owen G. Harrigan Visitor Centre in 2005 said he took great pride in seeing the refurbished building ready to serve travellers in …
April 22, 2021
Tourism in the quarantine era
It had been over a year since I’d last travelled to the United States. I normally make the trip twice a year, and I’d never missed Christmas in my home …
