At a time when the territory urgently needs its tourism industry to recover quickly from the pandemic, we have been distressed to hear repeated horror stories about travellers’ arrival experience …
January 18, 2023
December 12, 2022
EDITORIAL: Finally, direct flights to the United States
At a time when access limitations are one of the territory’s most intractable problems, the National Unity Government has scored a major victory by securing direct flights between here and …
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December 1, 2022
Tourism booms as Covid ebbs
The tourism season started barely two weeks ago, but business is already booming at Foxy’s Tamarind Bar on Jost Van Dyke. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen a season like …
November 3, 2022
Lit, lobster and lots more
What began as “Culture Week” has exploded into an annual celebration of art, literature, cuisine, music and other cultural assets in an effort to preserve and showcase what makes the …
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” …
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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 …
February 18, 2022
Tourism numbers ‘very healthy,’ premier says
Premier Andrew Fahie provide an update on tourism numbers at a Feb. 11 press conference, which he said are “very healthy and encouraging.” In 2021, the Virgin Islands received almost …
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February 14, 2022
Overnight arrivals dropped in 2021
New tourism numbers are in for 2021: About 50,000 overnight guests arrived on Virgin Islands shores in all of 2020. The fall is dramatic when compared to previous years. Before …
January 28, 2022
Mangrove destruction leaves VI ever more vulnerable to climate change
When Donald De Castro was a boy in the 1940s, mangroves lined the shore and cays in front of his family’s small waterfront home in Road Town. “We used to …
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November 22, 2021
EDITORIAL: As tourists return, Covid rules still essential
Tourists are back, and the coming high season promises a big economic boost if the Virgin Islands can manage to stay safe and emerge from the pandemic without another major …
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November 19, 2021
Premier presents $397m budget
Following another year of economic struggles amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Premier Andrew Fahie promised a brighter 2022 during his budget address on Nov. 11. Government, he said, hopes to tap …
October 26, 2021
Covid curfew lifts as tourism reboots
On Oct. 15, crowd-size restrictions were eased and the territory-wide curfew was completely lifted for the first time since the July spike in Covid-19 cases. “Cabinet met on Wednesday and …
September 22, 2021
Apolitical boards called key to sustainable tourism
At a time when the Virgin Islands government is under fire for abruptly dissolving its own Climate Change Trust Fund board and failing to replace it, a Caribbean tourism pioneer …
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September 6, 2021
Businesses still at forefront of building back
When Hurricane Irma came for the Bitter End Yacht Club, it destroyed nearly 100 buildings across 64 acres. But that didn’t mean that all of the resort was lost, said …
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July 21, 2021
UN: Tourism crash to cost trillions
The crash in tourism due to pandemic-related restrictions could cause a loss of more than $4 trillion to the global gross domestic product in 2020 and 2021, according to a …
July 13, 2021
‘Digital nomads’ bring millions to region through remote work
In the 10 months after the One Year Barbados visa for remote work launched, it processed some 2,500 applications, earned $6 million for government coffers, and raked in at least …
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June 17, 2021
Quarantine lifted for vaccinated travellers
As the flow of visitors into the Virgin Islands continues to grow, Premier Andrew Fahie announced on Tuesday that fully vaccinated people will now be able to enter the territory …
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May 20, 2021
Cruise ‘bubble’ still a mystery
Cruise ships are scheduled to start arriving in the territory next month, but a plan to put their cruise ship passengers in a “bubble” in the era of Covid19 was …
May 7, 2021
Fahie calls seaport opening a ‘success’
The recent seaport reopening has come with some “teething pains,” but it has been an overall success, Premier Andrew Fahie said on April 29 in the House of Assembly. Between …
May 5, 2021
2020 tourism industry revenue dipped nearly $280m
Although the dramatic pandemic-related slowdown in the tourism industry is evident from the Virgin Islands’ uncrowded beaches and vacant hotel rooms, statistics Premier Andrew Fahie presented to the House of …
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May 3, 2021
Cruise ships could home-port here soon
Cruise ships would be able to start and end their journeys in the Virgin Islands under a proposed law introduced recently in the House of Assembly as part of efforts …
April 21, 2021
COMMENTARY — Regional tourism recovery predicted
Recently published visitor arrival figures indicate that Caribbean tourism has started down the long road to recovery. Following a disastrous 2020 during which governments closed borders to try to halt …
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April 14, 2021
EDITORIAL: Vaccine passports could help jump-start tourism
As the Virgin Islands reopens its seaports to international arrivals this week, leaders should expedite plans for a system designed to ease entry requirements for anyone who has been vaccinated. …
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April 8, 2021
Coming to VI now more costly
Travellers arriving in the Virgin Islands during the Covid-19 pandemic are now required to pay more on top of the $175 fee charged to enter through the BVI Gateway portal. …
March 23, 2021
Disease still killing stony corals in Virgin Islands
An aggressive disease that can quickly kill stony corals has spread to at least 21 sites in the territory’s waters, according to a video released this month by the National …
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