"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
Nearly half a million cruise ship tourists have already visited the territory this year, and their numbers are expected to continue climbing and set a record for 2023, according to …
Continue reading “2023 on track to set cruise arrival record”
Following a busy tourism season that harked back to pre-Covid years, we are now encouraged by signs that the first post-pandemic slow season may not be so slow after all. …
A three-pronged campaign themed “YourBVI” launched Friday at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park with the aim of encouraging residents to take a tourist’s-eye view of the territory. “We …
Continue reading “A tourist’s-eye view: ‘YourBVI’ campaign pushes participation”
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Finally, direct flights to the United States”
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 …
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 …
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 …
