"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
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”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Tourism numbers ‘very healthy,’ premier says”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Mangrove destruction leaves VI ever more vulnerable to climate change”
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 …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: As tourists return, Covid rules still essential”
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Apolitical boards called key to sustainable tourism”
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 …
Continue reading “Businesses still at forefront of building back”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “‘Digital nomads’ bring millions to region through remote work”
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 …
Continue reading “Quarantine lifted for vaccinated travellers”
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “2020 tourism industry revenue dipped nearly $280m”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Regional tourism recovery predicted”
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. …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Vaccine passports could help jump-start tourism”
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. …
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 …
Continue reading “Disease still killing stony corals in Virgin Islands”
As the first anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic approaches, Opposition Leader Marlon Penn recently highlighted a need for additional relief while addressing the pandemic, the tourism industry and other economic …
Continue reading “Opposition leader calls for ‘stimulus 2.0’”
Vaccination is a very personal choice, but it has ramifications for all of society. We therefore urge all residents who feel comfortable taking the Covid-19 vaccine to get the shot …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Vaccines are the way out of Covid”
Since the borders opened to tourists on Dec. 1, the Virgin Islands has nine active cases of Covid-19 among recent arrivals, some of whom recently breached quarantine procedures, officials said …
