After 36 years, NPTVI increases park entrance fees
In a press release, the Trust said the first phase of the updated fee structure is intended to establish a more sustainable financial foundation for the management, maintenance and continued development of the Territory’s national parks and marine conservation mooring network.
According to the NPTVI, the additional revenue will support infrastructure improvements, environmental conservation initiatives, visitor safety and accessibility, park maintenance, the upkeep of marine conservation moorings and the day-to-day operation of the Territory’s protected areas.
The adjustment marks the first increase in park entrance fees since 1990. The Trust said rates have remained largely unchanged for 36 years despite significant increases in labour, materials, utilities, maintenance, infrastructure and other operational costs, as well as growth in visitor numbers.
Revenue generated through the revised fees will be reinvested in the Trust’s 22-park network and the maintenance of approximately 155 marine conservation moorings across the Virgin Islands.
Revised Park Entrance Fees
The release added that at Sage Mountain National Park, the entrance fee for visiting adults will increase from $3 to $5, while the fee for visiting children under 18 will rise from $2 to $3. The resident adult fee will increase from $1 to $3. The resident child fee will remain at $1. At The Baths and Devil’s Bay National Parks, the entrance fee for visiting adults will increase from $3 to $10, while the fee for visiting children under 18 will rise from $2 to $5.
Virgin Islanders, Belongers and residents will continue to enter The Baths and Devil’s Bay National Parks free of charge when they present valid government-issued identification.
The release said that accepted identification includes a Virgin Islands passport, Virgin Islands Belonger card, Virgin Islands driver’s licence, Virgin Islands voter identification card, Work Permit card or NHI card. At the Joseph Reynold O’Neal Botanic Garden, the visitor adult fee will increase from $3 to $5, while the visitor child fee will rise from $2 to $3. The resident adult fee will increase from $1 to $3, and the resident child fee will increase from $1 to $2.
Revised Mooring Fees
Daily marine conservation permit fees for local vessels will increase from $3 to $15 per person. The release added that the visiting fees for adults will rise from $6 to $25 per person, while the fee for visiting children will increase from $6 to $10 per person. The Trust noted that daily marine conservation permit fees do not include entrance fees to The Baths and Devil’s Bay National Parks.
For weekly term charters, bareboat charters and private vessels, fees for local vessels will increase from a range of $25 to $55 to $160 per vessel, with a maximum of eight persons. The fee for visiting vessels will increase from a range of $50 to $110 to $200 per vessel, also with a maximum of eight persons. Weekly fees include entrance to The Baths and Devil’s Bay National Parks. Annual marine conservation mooring fees for commercial local vessels will increase from a range of $375 to $825 to $1,500 per vessel. The fee for commercial visiting vessels will increase from a range of $750 to $1,650 to $2,000 per vessel.
Annual fees for private local vessels will rise from $75 to $175, while the fee for private visiting vessels will increase from $150 to $250. Annual marine conservation mooring fees do not include entrance fees to The Baths and Devil’s Bay National Parks.
Trust Cites Rising Operating Costs
“Our priority is to ensure that the Territory’s national parks are properly managed, maintained and conserved for future generations,” said Dr Cassander P. Titley-O’Neal, Director of the National Parks Trust.
“The revised fees will provide additional resources to support the ongoing operation of our parks and marine conservation network, while allowing the Trust to address necessary improvements to infrastructure, interpretation, safety and the overall visitor experience,” she added.
The Trust said it recognises the importance of keeping the Territory’s national parks and popular snorkelling and diving sites accessible and well managed for residents and visitors.
It said the revised fee structure will provide a more sustainable means of meeting the increasing costs associated with protecting and maintaining the Territory’s natural and cultural resources.
Detailed information on the revised fee schedule is available on the official National Parks Trust website at www.bvinpt.org and on the Trust’s official Facebook page.
The National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands was established under the National Parks Ordinance of 1961. It is a statutory body responsible for parks and protected areas under the Virgin Islands National Parks Act of 2006, the 2008 Regulations and the 2024 Amendment Bill.
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11 Responses to “After 36 years, NPTVI increases park entrance fees”
OAN, those fees should've been raised donkey years ago. NPT complained about lack of funds for as long as I've paid attention, but refused to increase their park fees. I say 'long overdue'.
In comparison you can get into Yellowstone, Yosemite or Rocky Mountain National Parks for $35 for an entire week for a whole carload of 6 people. Heck, splurge and take two cars and it's still a fraction of the cost. And in those places you have more trails than you could possibly walk in that week, with all the safety and services you could ask for. VI National Park in St. John is free, like many others!
The BVI is too cheap to even hire a lifeguard, provide a first aid station for the many possible accidents that can happen in such a place. Meanwhile look at how fat the people are getting that run the government, you can see where the money's going.
They should have increased the fees by 10-15% like any other sensible place in the world, not 300-400%!
Just don't be surprised when the tourism shifts to other destinations with more welcoming policies.
Bahamas cancelled both yacht shows due to lack of participation from charter fleet. Marinas cut staffing due to lack of business. Govt tax revenue down due to lack of boats. By raising fees too high and too fast, they actually received less revenue. Rinse and repeat again since BVI has blinders on to the real world of consequences for their actions.
Incompetence in the past regarding fees doesn’t excuse incompetence today. Talk about cutting your nose off to spite your face.