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VI Gov’t not looking for mass tourism!

March 30th, 2012 | Tags: tourism Local Dr. Kedrick Pickering mass tourism
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Virgin Gorda, home of the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous. Photo: Jeff Brown/Superyacht Media
Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Hon. Dr. Kedrick Pickering
Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Hon. Dr. Kedrick Pickering
Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Hon. Dr. Kedrick Pickering
Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Hon. Dr. Kedrick Pickering
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The Government of the Virgin Islands is not pushing for mass tourism as it maps out the future of the tourism product, instead it will be focusing on “low impact, high output” declared Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. Kedrick Pickering at a town hall meeting to discuss the airport expansion last evening, March 29, 2012 at the Sir. Rupert Briercliffe Hall.

He was at the time responding to a question posed by a resident who wanted to know where the plane loads of passengers would be accommodated when most of the hotels are high end.

“I want to make sure that it’s clear, our Government is concentrating on low impact, high output. We are not trying to compete with St. Maarten and St. Thomas in terms of bringing numbers into the country we are not going for quantity, we are going for quality.

So the emphasis is to get more of the high end people to come and getting them from the destinations they want to come. In terms of aircraft size and the number of passengers those are details to be worked out,” Hon. Pickering stated.

Not to be misinterpreted, the Minister made it clear that the VI welcomes tourists to soak in the idyllic atmosphere.

“Of course we want more people to come but we don’t want mass tourism, both this Government and the former Government have done a number of things such as the development of the Yacht Club and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), North Sound to attract mega yachts and super yachts races… but that means people need to get in and out of the Territory with relative ease. That is the sort of tourism we are looking to the future for.”

He recalled that one resident at the East End meeting, which was held on March 27, 2012, had stated that the VI had reached its capacity in the marine industry, and enquired if more facilities will be built to facilitate the influx of tourists.

“Well maybe we have, so what we need to do is to cut back more of the smaller boats and bring more high end boats so the people who are coming and spending more money per person than numbers…so it’s a new approach to tourism. We want low impact, high output.”

A number of airlines have been in discussion with the Ministry and BVI Airport Authority and Committee on the project’s blueprints, and include Delta, Jet Blue, Air Canada and American Airlines.

12 Responses to “VI Gov’t not looking for mass tourism!”

  • Not2Sure (30/03/2012, 08:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So why is Government planning to extend the cruise ship dock then?
    • Well Sah (30/03/2012, 13:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      If the demand is there the airlines will fly wherever it is no matter the length of the runway or approach. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Jw4PHhLBbrU
      • Real Talk (30/03/2012, 15:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Please stop the madness!!!!!!!!!!! We are governed by certain rules and regulations and FAA and ASSI will be involved in granting approvals for whatever aircraft are suitable to land here. Digging up a video off youtube of a runway short like ours with a big plane landing on it doesn't prove anything. Do you think if that were the case we would be having this discussion now? LOL! wow...
      • blah blah blah blah (30/03/2012, 17:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        no more yutube please ...we done make up our mind.
  • black girl (30/03/2012, 08:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i like dr. Pickering
  • critic (30/03/2012, 09:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    this sounds like a friendship favor thing
    • mad man (30/03/2012, 11:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      although I like what the Hon Prickering is doing as far as this extension is concern because like it or not we can't continue to be dependent on St Thomas and SJU to get our tourist however I kind of agree with you with that comment, I hope that this government is doing this for the wider BVI and not just to satisfy outside interest.
  • Georgey (30/03/2012, 10:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree with you Critic
  • queen makisha (30/03/2012, 11:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    dont worry we give them an F next time
  • town man (30/03/2012, 13:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    the easier the destination is to get there the more people would come
  • farmer brown (30/03/2012, 15:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The bvi tourist board better go from here with this crap about high end tourist. Boss tek the tourist dollars where ever you could get them from.
  • zoe (30/03/2012, 16:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ok Dr. Pickering I feel your pain …but what about the cruise ships? You all just sign something to expand it but they only bring in low end tourism????? This government seems dysfunctional and speaking from three sides of their head. The high end and none mass tourist you want with your airport are good but are the high end people going to want to deal with crowded beaches from the low end cruise ship????...come out doc tell us the real position of the “NEW” NDP.


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