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

2025 cruise tourism numbers projected to beat all records- Hon Kye M. Rymer

The Government of the Virgin Islands continues to look for ways to improve its tourism product, even while seeking to renew and establish relationships with cruise lines. Photo: VINO/File
 2025 tourism numbers in the Virgin Islands are projected to break historical records, according to Minister for Communications and Works, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5). Photo: HoA/File
2025 tourism numbers in the Virgin Islands are projected to break historical records, according to Minister for Communications and Works, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5). Photo: HoA/File
The Minister shares the projection while attending to Seatrade Cruise Global 2024 on Day 2 during an interview with the Government Information Service (GIS). Photo: GIS/File
The Minister shares the projection while attending to Seatrade Cruise Global 2024 on Day 2 during an interview with the Government Information Service (GIS). Photo: GIS/File
MIAMI, Florida, USA– 2025 cruise tourism numbers in the Virgin Islands are projected to break historical records, according to Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5).

The Minister shared the projection during an interview with the Government Information Service (GIS) at Seatrade Cruise Global 2024, in Miami, Florida.

“The BVI is desired. The BVI is a place where the cruise industry wants to come to the BVI and we are happy to try to facilitate that,” he said in the interview shared by GIS on Thursday, April 11, 2024.

Hon Rymer added that the VI continues to speak to the cruise lines and executives and is looking forward to a successful continuation of the tourism season in 2024 and into 2025.

“The numbers already coming in for 2025 will surpass those that we have seen anytime in our history,” he shared.

VI building partnerships 

Meanwhile, Hon Rymer said there will be a renewed relationship with Disney and Carnival cruise lines and the VI will also look to build stronger partnerships with other players.

Virgin Islands Director of Tourism Mr Clive L. McCoy hinted that the VI’s attendance was strong, with teams taking an all-hands-on-deck approach for the 2024 Seatrade Cruise Global event.

“We have met with several companies that are interested in helping us market the destination from a cruise perspective and we also have some other meetings set up with some persons that are interested in helping us build our hospitality and our product in general,” Mr McCoy said in a video update posted by the Government Information Service.

26 Responses to “2025 cruise tourism numbers projected to beat all records- Hon Kye M. Rymer”

  • ccc (15/04/2024, 19:32) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
    VIP all the way mehson
  • Really (15/04/2024, 19:50) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    If you want to talk about something look at Antigua look at st kitts look at st Vincent when you want to talk about something look at the number of ships docking up to their pair over 8 as hips at a time and it did not cost half of what you’ve spent ,it’s a crying shame this place is flying down the tubes very fast don’t know who can save this place
  • Lb (15/04/2024, 20:04) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    Pure BS! You want to know how good the cruise sector is doing? Just ask the actual businesses and beach vendors and taxi people! Season just start and it is over already 3 months later! The true test is in the revenue and length of the tourism season not in some numbers that show the capacity of the ships versus the actual people who disembark and the actual spend in real dollars! Blind leading the dumb!
    • @Lb (16/04/2024, 10:09) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
      Just because your business isn't doing well doesn't mean others are not doing well either. What are you doing to get your piece of the cruise ship pie? All businesses would never benefit from all tourists, that's just obsurd. What do you suggest the answer is? Stop the ships from coming because you don't benefit from it? You had a chance to change things and all you did was talk, just like you are doing now.
  • bvi (15/04/2024, 20:05) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    It's time for a next cruise ships dock.
  • Rockman (15/04/2024, 20:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ????why don’t you stop lies
  • west (15/04/2024, 20:55) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    This government is coming of age, they just need to stay focused and jumped at the chance to make the bvi great again
  • vi (15/04/2024, 21:33) Like (7) Dislike (5) Reply
    WHY HIS FOCUS AINT ON THE CONDITION OF THE ROADS. HE IS A WASTE OF TIME, POPPY SHO
  • vi (15/04/2024, 21:40) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Fix the roads before they arrived
  • Smile (15/04/2024, 21:50) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    If it is projected then you need to release the sister islands bonified bvi landers taxi licences. To long they have been begging and all you continue to do is give away all the licences to your district which is ludacris.
  • Lovely (15/04/2024, 21:58) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Please issue more taxi license to locals and make sure their buses is up to standard please and also issue crown land to local so they can start a Tourist attraction please sir
  • WEW (15/04/2024, 22:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Come on. We can a tell this story was created by Slowande
  • great news (16/04/2024, 00:35) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    if you are a taximan or are renting beach chairs at cane garden bay or are a beneficiary of departure tax, but that’s about it. Whys is there not more focus on villa rentals and boat charters who spend a lot more here?
  • Kye For Premier. Good Job. (16/04/2024, 03:38) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    Hon. Keep the good work up...The Future of tourism is on the Sea..Cruise ships and Yachts. Don't mind those who just want to be negative and ignoring the trend and the data.. However I would like you to engage all the Agents that make millions every year and ask them to at least be responsible for clearing and cleaning the Roads keep them visible, easy to mobile and safe...Also add just $100.00 per passenger to assist in Road and beach maintenance and safety. This you can hire 8hrs life Guards, and beach cleaners on all used beaches. Govt can't and shouldn't do it alone..Also create an operation hand book as guidance During ship days, as to the rules Governing the Operations as to keep order and good impression in place...My humble suggestions Thank you sir..
    • @Kye 4 Premier. CU made a mistake.. (16/04/2024, 09:35) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      You meant to say. $1.00.per head , that's a good suggestion..
  • U working Hon. (16/04/2024, 03:48) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    Congrats to you and your team. Great!. Hope we getting Carnival. And more ships like Avira that sell the place out leave everyone happy..More ships that are free of agents Pre-booking..Those ships contribute more to the economy.. Please make the Road to Beef Island and Cane Garden Bay nice..Real nice, See what you can do to improve the Road to smugglers Cove, it's private property but do your best. All my confidence in you.
  • Tiffany.. (16/04/2024, 03:51) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is results. Hope these Hon Tiffanies are paying attention. We need more than lip services and tax money wastage.
  • Money on the Sea (16/04/2024, 04:29) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who is working on improving and increasing our Boating and Yachting chartering business. This need attention. The money is on the sea. Can't stop the future.
  • jack (16/04/2024, 05:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    It haven't been 6 months into 2024 and he already calculating 2025,it's like counting your eggs before it hatch,no one know what this hurricane season will bring or the war in the middle east will do to oil price.
  • Roger Burnett (16/04/2024, 06:56) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
    Of course, "the BVI is a place where the cruise industry wants to come". That's how they make their money.

    Mass cruise ship tourism is the very worst way for the BVI to improve its tourism "product".
  • 2024 (16/04/2024, 08:46) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    with all of the dollars passing through the fingers of the politicians and the place still in shambles

    just saying spend some money on our country’s infrastructure: nothing against entertainment
  • ................................. (16/04/2024, 09:47) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
    This government needs to be reelected hands down
  • ok (16/04/2024, 10:56) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Good. Imagine if weed was legal. At least 10%+ bonus to hospitality.
  • skuntington (16/04/2024, 14:38) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    oh yea, lets please get more cruise ship passengers that don't buy many goods on land and congest our already poor infrastructure. the taxis can run them up and down giving tours. Thank you for your vision and making us the servant class to tourists.
  • congradulations (16/04/2024, 15:35) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply

    As long as many unpleasant or mean-spirited l or war-like events in the BVI are swept under the rug, tourism will
    continue to flourish in the BVI. The tourism industry at large and their information processors in the media do
    an excellent job 'whitewashing' the risks anyone visiting or moving to live in the BVI face, should anything go wrong.
    IF something goes bad, the victim not only will not be compensated or apologized to - but info about it will be silenced. I wonder how much the BVI tourist board and the cruiseship industry pay big media like Fox or CNN to not say anything. I know all the newspapers and Florida based media always cover the BVIs @$$. Florida is such a decent and honest place anyway. Just kidding. Wonder how much the White House is payed off too...?

  • ?? (16/04/2024, 16:26) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply

    Why is it that broke people want money but hate businesses that are about making money? People saying cruise ships only come here because they make money. WTF? Why else does anybody start a business if not to make money? If you don't make money how do you pay your bills? Staff etc.? Every person doesn't benefit from day trippers, everyone doesn't benefit from charters whether power boat or yachts, everyone doesn't benefit from mega yachts, everyone doesn't benefit from cruise ships. When I say everyone, I mean everyone directly whether as an individual or a business. All of these industries benefit different sectors of the economy so in totality we all benefit indirectly. The jealousy and small mindedness in the Territory is crazy. The people who have the most sh** to talk have no alternatives to put forward, just negativity. Let's cancel the ships then what?



Create a comment


Create a 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.