Airport expansion ‘idea’ to be explored @ BVI Ideas Fest 2025
Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) will make a presentation on the proposed expansion at the think tank event slated for November 11-12, 2025.
The proposal to expand the airport, including extending the current runway to accommodate large aircraft and more direct flights from the USA and further abroad, has received mixed responses.
Although the government seems determined to get the project going, sceptics have argued it will be too much of a financial burden on taxpayers. Some have argued that the government should focus on fixing the roads and other infrastructure first.
Others believe the runway extension is particularly necessary, since landing for large aircraft, such as American Airlines, can be challenging depending on the weather conditions.
‘Should we remain the off the beaten path destination?’
“Anguilla, Nevis, [and] Dominica have all embarked on new airport projects. St Vincent and the Grenadines' tourism has exploded since opening the Argyle International Airport.
“Should the BVI likewise follow this path to become more competitive in the tourism space, or should we remain the off the beaten path destination? We will explore this big idea at #bviideasfest2025 on November 11th and 12th at Peter Island Resort,” organisers of the event stated on social media.
BVI Ideas Fest 2025
This flagship gathering, which will showcase business initiatives in the Virgin Islands, will bring together brilliant thought leaders from around the globe, alongside dynamic local speakers and presenters. The event aims to explore the ideas shaping the future and help us understand the present.
Once titled the BVI Business Outlook Conference, held at Scrub Island Resort from 2011 to 2017, the initiative returns after an eight-year hiatus as the BVI Ideas Festival.
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) will also make a presentation at the event.
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23 Responses to “Airport expansion ‘idea’ to be explored @ BVI Ideas Fest 2025”
Not SECRET.
Just PAY PER VIEW.
Our opposition to a longer runway is rooted in a desire to protect the very essence of our island: our pristine environment, quiet communities, and exclusive appeal. A longer runway would invite larger, heavier aircraft that generate more noise, more emissions, and a higher volume of visitors, which risks diluting the luxury, low-density experience that defines us.
Instead, we propose a vision that elevates the passenger experience and unlocks greater revenue without compromising our island's character, with that said, the longer could be proportional to the safety of E170/190 which is hundreds of feet, making the rock bond suitable for that instead of having a clear way.
It would seem that getting your idea across is the privilege of the privilege of the well-connected or those to whom cost is but a minor consideration.
There were express representations made on numerous occasions that this would be the PROCESS, but yet the citizens are now still being denied that fundamental ability. It's an outrage how this government treats its people. The PROCESS is flawed, and should not be countenanced.
The BVI has Nature. People all over the world want to come and see and enjoy it.
We expand the runway and bring in more and more people, we need to expand everything else to accommodate those people and, guess what, that means destroying our Nature.
Destroy our Nature and people will no longer want to come here because all we will have is mass tourism on a small scale, like Punta Cana and every other island covered in fake luxury hotels, many of them empty much of the time.
When hurricane comes and the dollar falls, we are left with nothing but ruins.
If we plan around protecting our Nature, we protect our primary economic resource.
AND we leave a legacy to our children and grandchildren.
AND we act like responsible humans and not idiots who think money is more important than the ecology of the planet, which is dying because everyone is worshipping Mammon, and killing our vital life support systems.
(How do I have to pay to write this? $450?)
The secret business case probably has all the information just no one else has seen it. What are the options being considered, what are the projected costs and revenue, and the implications to the environment and community. What is the master plan to boost airbridge traffic and open up to more destination? What will be the transformation to the tourism project required to materialize these projected economic and financial benefit. Has the SSB been approached to provide loan funding or take equity in the project. Since Government is a rated sovereign entity has the idea of bonds secured against income like the Pier Park been explored. Pier Park can afford to run without collecting rent off of port fees and still payout their dividend.
Surely while it may not necessarily be a financial boon one would expect the real benefits will be to the Tourism and business section and ultimately the economy...we hope.