"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
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 …
The day before seaports were scheduled to reopen to tourists, government on Monday bumped the date to Jan. 21 and announced that a visitor who arrived last week had tested …
In recent weeks, there has been much debate about the border reopening that got under way last week, but now everyone must work together to achieve success as tourism returns. …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: As borders reopen, better safe than sorry”
As the late afternoon sun beat down on the tarmac of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Tuesday, two flights carrying visitors touched down. Aboard one of the planes …
Continue reading “After eight months, tourists welcomed back”
Even as Caribbean countries including the Virgin Islands cautiously reopen their borders to tourists, new statistics from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s November report illustrate the havoc the Covid- 19 pandemic …
The standards that businesses must meet ahead of the Dec. 1 border reopening became a bit clearer this week with new information released about “gold seal” staff training requirements. However, …
Continue reading “Biz info released, but reopening website not launched”
An old adage proclaims, “When the United States sneezes, the world catches a cold.” As the country heads into a presidential election next Tuesday amid the Covid-19 pandemic, that wisdom …
Premier Andrew Fahie on Monday announced the official protocols for tourists to enter the Virgin Islands, which include four rounds of testing for Covid-19, four days of quarantine within approved …
Continue reading “Reopening plan sparks outcry, cancellations”
With a new tourism season set to start on Dec. 1, hotels are outfitting rooms, boats are getting back on the water, restaurants are stocking up, and many other businesses …
Continue reading “Amid questions, tourism industry prepares for reopening”
During a series of closed-door stakeholder meetings hosted by the BVI Tourist Board over the past week, business owners in the tourism sectors of small hotels, transportation and tour operations …
Continue reading “Stakeholders debate bubble tourism, quarantine rules”
With less than seven weeks until the Virgin Islands’ borders are set to reopen to non-residents for the first time since late March, government has launched a series of meetings …
Continue reading “Draft reopening protocols complete but not public”
Pink flamingos and flourishing reefs were among the scenes in a video premiere launching “BVI Love,” a marketing campaign geared toward bringing tourism back to the territory on Dec. 1. …
The Virgin Islands closed to cruise ships on March 14, three days after the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic. Now, six months later, cruise ships might finally return …
Continue reading “Cruise ships with no passengers can now dock”
Following the government’s recent announcement that expatriates will be allowed to enter the territory starting in September, one big question remains about plans for the border reopening: When will tourists …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Plan for tourism opening needed now”
The government is right to use caution when reopening the borders during the pandemic, but we are glad that leaders have finally announced a plan to allow the return of …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Government right to reopen borders to expats”
Some years ago, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation launched a marketing campaign under the tagline “life needs the Caribbean.” It positioned the region’s tourism experience of peace and relaxation as the …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Ideas offered for safe tourism”
As part of his duties in maintaining the Bitter End Yacht Club’s mooring fields, Ben Williams, the owner of Sunchaser Scuba, has to replace the mooring lines every five or …
Continue reading “Divers turn old mooring rope into new scuba dive attraction”
Since late April there have been virtually no tourist arrivals in the Caribbean. In recent days, however, several countries have announced plans to reopen to international travel, albeit in a …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Call made for regional tourism protocol”
Facing a projected 42 percent dip in government revenue this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Virgin Islands has found some success in opening negotiations with the United Kingdom …
Continue reading “Fahie releases Protocols request sent to UK”
As the Virgin Islands hopes to scale up its fishing and farming sectors with the ultimate goal of becoming more self-sufficient, participants in a virtual forum last week said it …
Continue reading “Leaders push to boost local food production”
When the doors of the Virgin Islands reopen to tourism, the territory’s leaders say, they intend to be ready. Some competing countries and territories in the region have announced plans …
As the Virgin Islands and other Caribbean nations consider how to re-open their borders following the coronavirus pandemic, they could find helpful examples and cautionary tales in other island nations …
Continue reading “Experts advise looking abroad for ideas on reopening”
