Passengers disembark the Titan Airways Airbus a318 shortly after landing at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island from Canada on December 20, 2019. Photo: VINO/File

In a speech delivered November 29, 2022, Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 hit the local tourism industry very hard. Photo: HoA/Youtube

In his first Budget Address delivered on November 29, 2022, Premier Wheatley said the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 hit the local tourism industry very hard, “Tourist arrivals fell from 894,991 visitors in 2019, then 305,356 visitors in 2020 and dropped further to 133,715 visitors n 2021,” he added.

He added that the reopening of the Road Harbour Jetty in December 2020, saw arrivals progressively increasing with substantial increases in November and December of 2021 that fell short of 96,000 visitors.

“Vaccination programmes in most counties, the loosening of travel restrictions, the easing of quarantine periods, the reduction in and subsequent elimination of BVI gateway fees and pent-up appetite for travel, the tourism sector during 2022 commenced its upward club,” he said.

The Premier revealed that by the end of August 2022, total visitors grew by 1054%, moving from 28,224 visitors in August 2021 to 325,753 visitors.

Increase in cruise arrivals & day trippers 

“Cruisers and day trippers moved from 2,641 by the end of August 2021, to 204,330 for the same period in 2022 a 7637% growth while overnighters which stood at 27,604 by August 2021, reached 123,445 for the same period in 2022 a 347% increase,” he said in his $399.33M Budget Address for 2023. 

The Premier added that the VI tourism product remains resilient and in high demand with the re-emergence of annual events like the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival, BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, One BVI Poker Run, Christmas in July, BVI Summer Sizzle and the Emancipation Celebrations enhancing the level of visitors up to august 2022.

“We just concluded the 10^th Annual Lobster Fest in Anegada, which was incredibly successful and attracted visitors from outside the BVI,” he added.  

The Premier also detailed that the re-opening of the Taddy Bay Airport in Virgin Gorda has facilitated an increase in overnight and day trippers, in addition to the local room stock being increased and supplemented by the opening of new accommodations.