Though the territory will not accept vacationers for the rest of October, the BVI Tourist Board hyped up a variety of events and openings in November as the beginnings of a rebound for one of the Virgin Islands’ flagship industries.
Those events include the Charter Yacht Society’s annual boat show at Nanny Cay Resort & Marina from Nov. 5 and the Anegada Lobster Festival on Nov. 25 and 26, according to BVITB Director Sharon Flax Brutus.
In a statement published on Oct. 10, the director outlined those events and other openings she hopes will energise an industry that suffered drastic losses after Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
BVI Yacht Charters, the Catamaran Company, Virgin Motors, Dream Yacht Charters, The Moorings, Marine Max Vacations, Festiva Sailing, VSV, Horizon Yacht Charters, and TMM all plan to open in the next 3.5 months for any visitors hoping to rent a charter yacht or bareboat, according to Ms. Flax Brutus.
The VI’s three airports are also up and running and accepting commercials flights, she added.
Resorts and parks
The outlook for the territory’s hotels, however, appeared a bit less rosy: Luxury properties like Rosewood Little Dix Bay, Necker Island, Eustatia Island, Bitter End Yacht Club and Saba Rock all suffered extensive damage and don’t have reopening dates scheduled, the director explained.
Other private island resorts like Peter Island Resort and Spa, Scrub Island Resort, Cooper Island and Guana Island are “rushing to complete assessments so they can begin the road back to a luxury vacation experience,” Ms. Flax Brutus said.
In order to aid the process, the BVITB has been working with government to fast-track building permits and hotel aid applications, the director explained.
“Special concessions have been granted on building materials as well as furniture, fixtures and equipment to allow tourism partners to reinvigorate their products,” she added.
The territory’s natural attractions will also require some elbow grease.
“Our National Parks Trust is working assiduously on our parks — namely The Baths in Virgin Gorda as well as Sage Mountain and the botanical gardens in Tortola — to ensure that guests are greeted with natural attractions that meet their expectations,” the director wrote in her statement.
Total damage
Ms. Flax Brutus also noted that a “preliminary assessment” estimated the total damage to the tourism sector was more than $3 billion, though it was unclear where that figure came from or how it was derived.
It was also unclear if her estimate was related to the number Premier Dr. Orlando Smith provided last week when he said that “preliminary assessments” suggested Irma caused $3.3 billion of damage to the territory overall.
Family and friends
Though tourists are not permitted this month, the government has lifted entry restrictions to enable residents’ relatives and friends to visit the territory to ensure their well-being and assist in the recovery effort, officials announced last Thursday.
Such visitors will be allowed remain in the territory for four weeks, though extensions will be granted “sparingly” on a “case-by-case basis,” according to Government Information Services.
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