Premier Smith said to maintain the quality of the VI's attractions over-burden any one site cannot be afforded and must be mindful that the carrying capacity of our beaches, our historical sites, and our national parks are not overwhelmed. Photo: VINO

Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith said the Tourism Development Plan will be reviewed

This was disclosed at the opening of the Greening the Economy Seminar at Treasure Isle on February 22, 2012.

“As we embark on our review of this Plan, all stakeholders including our environmental organisations will be brought to the table to discuss our agenda going forward. Even as we seek new approaches to improve our accessibility to our visitors we are committed to doing so in a sustainable way. We are very conscious of our need to protect the golden goose that makes the BVI so attractive to visitors, and that is our environment,” Premier Smith said.

According to the Premier, one of things his Government has always been conscious of is the need for a sustainable approach to the economy and particularly to tourism. “Tortola is only 21 square miles but it is the largest of our islands. Our sister islands are tiny. To maintain the quality of our attractions we cannot afford to over-burden any one site and must be mindful that the carrying capacity of our beaches, our historical sites, and our national parks are not overwhelmed.

As we embark on our review of this Plan, all stakeholders including our environmental organisations will be brought to the table to discuss our agenda going forward. Even as we seek new approaches to improve our accessibility to our visitors we are committed to doing so in a sustainable way. We are very conscious of our need to protect the golden goose that makes the BVI so attractive to visitors, and that is our environment.”

Stressing on the importance of Greening the Economy, Premier Smith said a 2002 study indicated that 84 percent of tourists would prefer to stay at an accommodation that had received green accreditation and 68 percent would pay more to stay there. “The more we learn about global warming and climate change and the more organizations such as Tourism Concern and Mother Nature Network make information about eco-friendly travel easy to access, the higher those figures will go. We ignore them at our peril.”

The Minister responsible for Tourism added that his Government is determined to seize the day and to do all that can be done so the Virgin Islands becomes a destination where thirty percent of its tourism industry partners meet the criteria established by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council within the next five years.

He also said it is Government’s desire that in the next twenty years, 100 percent of the Territory’s tourism properties are meeting the criteria, which he said are mainly; Demonstrating effective sustainable management while minimising all negative impacts; Maximising social and economic benefits to the local community; Maximising benefits to cultural heritage; and maximising benefits to the environment.

“Businesses and tourism properties will be encouraged and assisted to raise the environmental awareness of their staff so that everyone who works in the BVI knows how important the environment is to the existence of their job. It is our beautiful clear waters, our pristine beaches, our colourful reefs and lush hills that attract tourists to our islands and it is the income we earn from tourism that makes our quality of life possible. Every single person in the BVI is affected by our tourism industry regardless of whether they work directly in it or not. Tourism revenues allow us to maintain our roads, modernise our medical clinics, and pay civil servants. The tourism industry employs thousands of people but it does much more than that – it underpins our very society.”