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Tourist suggests Craft Alive be advertised on cruise ships

Several vendors of Craft Alive when contacted said that it was not the first time such a concern was raised with them by tourists themselves and think it’s something the relevant authorities should take heed to especially as the vendors are dependent on the tourists for their business and because of the heavy fee they pay to government as stall holders. Photo: VINO/File
A German tourist is appealing to the relevant authorities in the Virgin Islands to advertise Craft Alive on cruise ships and to impress on taxi operators to promote the village as well. Photo: Provided
A German tourist is appealing to the relevant authorities in the Virgin Islands to advertise Craft Alive on cruise ships and to impress on taxi operators to promote the village as well. Photo: Provided
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – With intention of penning his concerns to the relevant authorities, a tourist has recorded with much disgust his concern with the non-advertisement of Craft Alive on the cruise ships even as the Cruise Pier Project (CPP) takes effect.

This information was shared with this news site at the request of a German tourist who gave his name as Michael. “My name is Michael and I love this Island.

“I am a German Tourist, I am on the boat with three thousand people today, (Sunday December 28, 2014) and women have no shops to go and buy, they like the islands where they only come to buy,” he said.

Speaking for him and other men he said, “You know it, you know your wife, and today nobody knows that here is a market (Craft Alive).”

He said that he made it a special interest of his to search for the location he visited four years ago on a previous cruise, at the time he learnt the name as ‘Tent City’. “I was here four years ago and I know this market at the bus stop and you should say to the drivers of taxis… you have thirty/forty persons on board they should say in the morning, noon or when they come for the tours that there is a little market because nobody has a chance to see this market.”

The German who insisted that his taxi driver escort him to the Craft Alive village said that many persons choose not to leave the ship as it was their understanding that there are very few places to shop since just about four private shops are being advertised at length on the cruise ships.

Several vendors of Craft Alive, when contacted, said it is not the first time such a concern was raised with them by tourists themselves and think it’s something the relevant authorities should take heed to especially as the vendors are dependent on the tourists for their business and because of the heavy fee they pay to government as stall holders.

22 Responses to “Tourist suggests Craft Alive be advertised on cruise ships”

  • Danke! (31/12/2014, 14:13) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dankeschön an den Mann, der diese Erfahrung geteilt.
    • cheap tat from china (31/12/2014, 21:34) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Should the adverts mention that most of the shops are selling the sea cheap tat from China.
    • Isabel (01/01/2015, 11:51) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      Advertising what is available to Tourists is mainly but not entirely the responsibility of the Tourist Board. What have they been advertising besides hotels to stay at or restaurants? Tourists on a cruise ship do not need any of these things. The person in charge of Tourist Board has never gone out to All businesses in the BVI and they have had more than enough time throughout the year to do this. I have never seen any official come into my business to ask me what I am about. I have done all my own advertising which I am supposed to do, but Tourist Board don't even know what businesses are out there to suggest Tourists to visit them or tell the Taxi Drivers to take them to. Cane Garden Bay IS NOT THE ENTIRE BVI, and it has been for a long time way over rated and overcrowded. We have so many other nice places to take them to, but Tourist Board is only interested in getting their paychecks and taking free trips, in the guise of promoting the BVI. How in the HELL do they promote the BVI when they themselves do not know the businesses we have here. They should have a public meeting asking all businesses to show up and let them see how neglectful they have been in knowing OUR BVI.
  • vex (31/12/2014, 14:27) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply
    ayo thing NDP care about you poor people at craft alive? eh
  • real Tao (31/12/2014, 15:35) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where is the darn tourist board ?with all the dollars they get to advertise? Shucks.
  • tretretrete (31/12/2014, 15:56) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    They need to hire Bevis as a consultant, you need someone that think 2 month 3 months ahead not a day ahead....
  • dog (31/12/2014, 16:04) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is only going to get worse with the spoon-fed chain stores at the cruise ship dock. No one will know about what I find charming at Crafts Alive. I only wish that more of that architecture was being used at the land-side instead of big square generic buildings which could be anywhere. There is sadly, no sense of "place" or identity any more in the BVI. everyone wants to look like Miami, St Marteen, STT, even Dubai. Crafts Alive is hanging onto that cultural identity (even though what is being sold needs help). I agree with the German visitor. Except for one thing. of 3000 visitors, around 30-40 people are really interested in shopping. Even if it was a larger percentage, not everyone is looking to shop. I only wish that Main St could be turned into a pedestrian walk way with new local entrepreneurs. Please keep the port lobbiests away from the plans because it will end up looking like Disney.
  • resident (31/12/2014, 17:00) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    I think it's a very good idea to move forward with as a resident I personally would approach the Hon minister they a only human instead of criticizing them bring forward our ideas help in moving the territory forward
  • ... (31/12/2014, 17:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    This takes the cake.
  • care (31/12/2014, 17:54) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Them rass will. Care election time
  • wize up (31/12/2014, 18:33) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I take some white man to tell us that we need to promote craft alive; the operators/venders need to come together and promote their products...I guess then waiting on the government to that for them....them to busy trying to under sell each other when the day come....no one have to tell any prudent business owner that they need advertise their goods & services....who vex, vex !!!!!
  • egg face (31/12/2014, 18:41) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Whenever this subject comes up, I always refer the critics of the VIP to when they warn that the new cruise ship shops will kill craft alive
  • taxi (31/12/2014, 19:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    My limited understanding of this business is that the agents for these cruise lines are more into selling tours.
    Most visitors come off ship onto a bus take a tour by land down to Pussers Sopher's Hole Frenchman's Cay and return by ferry. Others take that ferry and return by tour bus. This service is provided by an operator I will not mention.
    Can Craft Alive survive with ? probably someone help.
    • pat (01/01/2015, 15:32) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      is that why the ferries don't run into West End from St Thomas any more... One has to go to Road Town and get an expensive taxi back to west end!!!
  • Do it yourself (31/12/2014, 20:23) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    The vendors are the ones who should be responsible for advertising their businesses. I take cruises all the time and shops of all kinds have promotional stuff to hand out to cruise passengers as they get off the ship. If they wouldn't get together and do a combined flyer or something, each business owner can hand out simple post card size flyers inviting passengers to visit their shops. People like freebies so simple stuff like a free shot of local rum will lure people in your place. If they want to step up a notch, they can do whatever it would take to get their business places advertised in the ship's daily excursion flyers etc. Government can't do it all. The facility is owned by government and rented by business people, some of who don't even want to pay their rent. People do what you have to do to succeed instead of casting blame.
  • wize up (01/01/2015, 09:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    when the cruise ship project finish, craft alive will die(its sad)
  • The Elitist Board (01/01/2015, 12:49) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tourism Board is just place for the elitists to place their elitist friends- when Fraser is premier- he will overhaul the place- put hard workers in place- the TB is just an entitlement dpartment
  • Business (02/01/2015, 09:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    These venders are tring with what they have you on the outside looking try having aspace at craftalive see what take place selling there it take skill to conduct sale that why one was not cut out to vending an exskimo cant live outside its house place give the venders an anplause for what they do cause some peoplecant a bone to a...... i have been to meeting on more than one ocastion to hear what is said from ministers and other officials they promise to promote craftalive st the welcome center at the cruiseship dock also provide embasidors to do ground tours just like the taxies have tours around the island. That is the goverments officials job is to promote tourism in and around the bvi. You have to be in it to know so just stop calling down the venders its ajob and a dam good one at that to sell just like the serians store ..they the same china shit.lol all of them and we the cretics buy them..venders at crafalive dont give up dont mind the noise you guys have some good stuff if onlythe jack...them will only the time to look and se whatyou girls have happy new year to you all hang in there . Tola lady inthe front iwear my blouse old year night and every one love it get some . The ladies at back be good everyone keep trying . City manager happy new year look out forthe ladies not only........
    • @Business (02/01/2015, 15:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      WTF are you saying? I tried following your narrative but could not make sense of it. This is a lengthy comment, sad that there is no clarity as to what you are trying to say. Try again.


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