The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board (BVITB) hosted fourteen of the tourism industry’s most renowned travel advisors for 2 days of meetings from Thursday, October 31, to Saturday, November 1, 2019 at the BVI International Arbitration Centre and one day of site inspections and property visits throughout the territory. Photo: Provided

Local attendees of the tourism forum included Junior Minister for Tourism Honourable Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL), Acting Premier Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5), Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Carvin Malone (AL), Deputy Speaker Honourable Neville A. Smith (AL) as well as BVITB Chairwoman Kenisha Sprauve and Director of the BVI Tourist Board, Ms Sharon P. Flax-Brutus. Photo: Provided

With individual specialties in the realms of luxury tourism, travel and destinations, the experts, formally deemed the BVI Travel Agent Advisory Board, include Chief Executive Officers, Vice Presidents and Senior Consultants from agencies in key cities in the USA and Canada.

Local attendees included Junior Minister for Tourism Honourable Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL), Acting Premier Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5), Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Carvin Malone (AL), Deputy Speaker Honourable Neville A. Smith (AL) as well as BVITB Chairwoman Kenisha Sprauve and Director of the BVI Tourist Board, Ms Sharon P. Flax-Brutus.

The forum’s key focus was honing in on solutions for redefining and rebuilding the destination’s product and marketing capacity to reignite tourism as the region recovers from the devastating effects of climate change.

To accomplish this, the panel convened candid, research driven discourse on how the Virgin Islands is currently perceived by real and prospective visitors, the factors that determine travel in the 21st century, who are modern competitors are and how the Virgin Islands can assess and adapt to over-tourism in an age where sustainability is of increasing importance to our livelihoods and public relations.

This was followed with site visits to several of the landmark properties that play pivotal roles in our tourism product like the soon to reopen Rosewood Little Dix Bay Resort.

Honourable Flax-Charles encouraged keen interest in the three day proceedings, stating that: “Tourism is everybody’s business! I am urging everyone to pay keen attention to the outcome of these meetings as the impact of climate change is posing a multi-faceted challenge to the tourism sector and the viability of economies all across the Caribbean. My hope is that our entire team as sellers and managers of this beautiful destination that we call home left reinvigorated with a greater understanding of the obstacles and opportunities that the 21st century present.”

The Junior Minister for Tourism and the BVI Tourist Board are excited to share synopses with the people as to what they were able to achieve with these meetings and how the Government and Tourist Board will bring a fresh approach to our product development and marketing.