‘Swim with the Dolphins’ to return in 2020
The internationally acclaimed Dolphin Discovery’s Swim with the Dolphins is seen as a key component of the VI’s tourism product, especially for cruise passengers.
The dolphins were taken out of their usual swim area and placed in a nearby pool prior to Hurricane Irma making landfall in the territory on September 6, 2017. The Category 5 hurricane then ravaged the Virgin Islands. Prospect Reef Hotel and Resort was devastated, including the facility that accommodated Dolphin Discovery. The dolphins were subsequently taken out of the territory, according to reports reaching our newsroom.
According to Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), feedback from cruise passengers and industry partners show that the demand for the tourist attraction is high.
Premier Fahie alluded to this fact while addressing reporters at a press conference at Brandywine Bay Restaurant on Wednesday night, October 2, 2019 in the presence of five cruise tourism executives who were in the territory to meet with local industry stakeholders to share their expectations of their product offerings.
On the panel were Associate Vice President of Government Relations, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd Andre Pousada; Vice President of Destination Services Operations, Norwegian Cruise Line, Christine Manjencic; Vice President of Cruise Operations, MSC Cruise and FCCA Chairman, Albino di Lorenzo; President of Florida Caribbean Cruise Association, Michele Paige and Director of Commercial Homeport Operations, Carnival Cruise Line, Carlos Estrada.
Junior Tourism Minister to spearhead return of Dolphin Discovery
According to Premier Fahie, the Junior Minister for Tourism, Honourable Shareen D. Flax- Charles (AL) has been tasked with realising the return of Dolphin Discovery.
“She (Hon Flax-Charles) has already brought all the players to the table, discussions have been had and the leg work is being completed, led by her, and being over looked by the Premier’s Office so that should be something that should be signed within the next two months or so, I should say, and then works would be started, so that won't be open until next year.”
Premier Fahie said a new Board is in place for the Prospect Reef Management Company Limited so that the contractual arrangements could be finalised. “They should hopefully be signing the new agreement because Hurricane Irma was the only reason they had to leave. Now we are building negotiations to have them back because most of the cruise liners and their guests and passengers have insisted that they want the return of Dolphin Discovery, so we will be working on that.”
Hon Fahie added that the aim is to have the tourist attraction in place for the next height of the cruise tourism season. “That is the 2020 season. It won't catch this season at all [as] there is a lot of work to be done, a lot of repairs to be done.”
According to Hon Fahie, a complete rebuild of the facility would have to take place.
“The whole area where the dolphins were, those areas were repaired so we're glad that we were now able to reach back to this level of collaboration with the owners of this company. They have come back into the BVI. I welcome them and I thank them…because on any given day with the cruise ships that come, around 500 persons on average go and participate in the Dolphin Discovery tour. So this is a significant boost to our cruise liners and it’s welcomed by them.”
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17 Responses to “‘Swim with the Dolphins’ to return in 2020”
2. Dolphins travel huge distances every day, imprisoned in a 100 sq ft pen is literally exactly how you would feel if you were imprisoned. Although it sounds like they are probably more intelligent than you so it would actually affect them more.
3. You do not to visit any prison to know that the inmate would rather be free.
4. They can not in any way lead a normal life in prison causing great phycological issues to the animal.
We are better than that..we now know bettter and should do better..Freedom for the dolphind!!!!