Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

VIP’s Flax-Charles proposes more tourism products

-Says explore several niche options and widen the scope
Ms Flax-Charles—a BVI Tourist Board official and social activist—spoke about her plans for the Territory when the VIP held its Meet and Greet for the 2019 elections season at Maria’s by the Sea, on Wednesday, January 16, 2019. Photo: Team of Reporters
“Many of you know that I come from a family that is deeply involved in our tourism industry in Virgin Gorda, and so it was natural for me to enter into the tourism industry,” she told those gathered at the event. Photo: Team of Reporters
“Many of you know that I come from a family that is deeply involved in our tourism industry in Virgin Gorda, and so it was natural for me to enter into the tourism industry,” she told those gathered at the event. Photo: Team of Reporters
MARIA’S BY THE SEA, Road Town, Tortola, VI - At-Large candidate under the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), Ms Shereen D. Flax-Charles is planning to significantly expand the Virgin Islands (VI) tourism products if elected to office in 2019.

Ms Flax-Charles—a  BVI Tourist Board official and social activist—spoke about her plans for the Territory when the VIP held its Meet and Greet for the 2019 elections season at Maria’s by the Sea, on Wednesday, January 16, 2019.

Tourism Blood

“Many of you know that I come from a family that is deeply involved in our tourism industry in Virgin Gorda, and so it was natural for me to enter into the tourism industry. My mother and father taught us to work hard and instilled in us the values and benefits of hard work,” she told those gathered at the event.

According to Ms Flax-Charles, one issue she plans to immediately address is the current congestion at several of the VI’s most popular tourist sites.

“The congestion that occurs at our most popular tourist sites have to be relieved… We can do so by developing additional tourist attractions throughout the BVI. By doing so we will lessen the environmental impact that the thousands of visitors that come to these locations have,” she said.

According to her, in order to do this, officials must first understand what the needs of the cruise ship industry and their passengers are.

“It is only by working directly with them to address their needs that we can do this successfully,” Flax-Charles pointed out.

Explore Niche

Further, according to the VIP At-Large hopeful, the territory should consider venturing into a number of other types of tourism including Sports Tourism, Cultural Tourism and Medical Tourism.

“With the addition of these unique products to the industry, we can refine our existing industry, by attracting more over-night guest to our territory, who spend proportionally more than our daily cruise ship passenger guest,” she uttered. 

According to Ms Flax-Charles, “These types of tourism products contribute more to the bottom line of our tax base, giving us the money we need to invest in our economy so we can move this country in one direction – Forward!”

7 Responses to “VIP’s Flax-Charles proposes more tourism products”

  • women power (20/01/2019, 07:35) Like (12) Dislike (8) Reply
    Good ideas we voting with you
  • voter (21/01/2019, 03:42) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    When you was at tourist board you didn't had these ideas? I could tell you people really think they could fool you go sit down over there and don't move... It should be ashamed that this woman was endorsed to run in a party that Uncle Ralphie put in so much work after she bash him and the same "VIP"..
    • POWER WOMAN (21/01/2019, 23:00) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
      How would you know. The proposals are ALL there. Why don't you tell the public that the present government NEVER funded these projects. Tell Trefor Grant he CANT steal her ideas. They were there before he came to the Board and they were HER ideas. As for Uncle Ralph ask him how many copies of her cd he bought back in the day and said to her that a good politician listens to the people and the voice of the people comes in many forms and one was in calypso. At least she is not afraid to speak up and tell the truth. The same way she will speak up and tell the truth and not wait until election right around the corner to take flight from a party that you founded and now want to tell us it is a different party when it is still the NDP disguised as NDP and PVIM. SHE WILL stand up to Andrew and ANY member of the party if she feels that they are wrong and that the PEOPLE are not getting JUSTICE, that the people are being WRONGED and their RIGHTS VIOLATED
  • "Thing to talk" (21/01/2019, 04:16) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    You don't have an international airport "St.Thoms eating we lunch" Myron is so clever... tell me now Ms.Lady how you going get over night business? Tell your supporters who bashing the Hon.M.V.W over nighters spend big bucks more than 1 cruise passenger.. with it taking 2 days to get to and from the Bvi how will we be able to benefit from sports tourism (e.g) travelling from Trinidad,Guyana,Suriname,Europe,US an I don't mean Florida I'm talking about states where you have 2-3 stops and your still in the US then you still got to fly to st.thomas then get on a ferry you think that's a hassle many would want to take on... our hands are tied behind our backs and we don't even realize....
  • AVIATION SPECIALIST (21/01/2019, 23:12) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    What did myron do when he was Chairman of the Tourist Board to solve this problem??NOTHING!!! Did you even know he was Chairman of the Board? .Who is the MINISTER FOR SPORTS? I thought it was Myron?? or has that changed? Would you pay $1500.00 for a coach seat from Miami to Tortola?? New York to St Thomas $400 plus the ferry fare. Do the math. When you can buy a ticket from Miami to St Thomas for $300 and the ferry to Tortola for $50?? Late ferries from St Thomas would help to solve the problem. Imagine the government bank approve million dollar loans for purchase of ferries to locals and now the very same government wants to bankrupt these same companies. I guess Bobby will have to send his other boat to Antigua as well. The airport does need expansion and this lady has NEVER DISAGREED with that. THe challenge we all have is at WHAT COST AND TO WHO? This government mismanaged so many projects and you want them to control an airport project of this magnitude?? YOU MUST BE MAD1111
    • @aviation specialist (22/01/2019, 09:56) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      I dont know what kind of aviation specialist you be but you definitely work in the wrong field once you become a hub of an airline it makes life cheaper all you need to do is start small you can use JetBlue 3 days of week which would be JetBlue leaves US into Puerto Rico then into the BVI with intent in the near future an added day... As I can see you only travel to Miami so you too is missing the point this is something for the entire world not just people traveling to and from Miami since you are an aviation specialist do you ever know visitors to St.kitts from England once traveled through Antigua since Antigua had direct flights from England 3 days a week and St Kitts didn't and when St.kitts realized what was happening with the list delays or even a delay out of England which leaves there Vistors to be spending in Antigua didn't they implement direct flights from England.. And Bobby sending his boat to Antigua was his choice.. you think Antigua and Barbuda is like Tortola and VG incase you don't know there is not a heavy travels between both islands may it be by boat or plane for the Barbudans who work or goes to school in Antigua bunk with relatives or family friends so no need for everyday travel on a ferry like Vg people who works or goes to school on Tortola. And the Barbudans who remain there don't need ferry service every day ..Does Anegada needs a ferry service every day? That lady can't even run her home muchless a government... Have she fixed her relationship with sapphire?
  • Baccanal (21/01/2019, 23:47) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    What Ms flax says is the truth. Cruise tourism is not the way to go,but it does help the product. Each cruise passenger spend less than $5:00 each in the local businesses. Overnight spend at least $150.00 each. The receptor the Hon MVW was the chairman at one time and didn't bring nothing to the table. You folks are really blind to want the doctors and lawyers to fool us again. You are probably the ones who benefitted from The NDP anyhow.


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.