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Close to 38,000 travellers entered VI in recent months

- as VI's tourism industry showing encouraging signs for recovery
Marella Discovery with 495 passengers and Celebrity Edge with 1270 passengers arrived in the Virgin Islands on November 10, 2021. Photo: Facebook
In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affecting the world and travel, just shy of 38,000 travellers entered the Virgin Islands in the past few months, with the bulk of that figure registered as visitors. Photo: VINO
In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affecting the world and travel, just shy of 38,000 travellers entered the Virgin Islands in the past few months, with the bulk of that figure registered as visitors. Photo: VINO
Cruise ship tourists tour Tortola on bicycles. Photo: VINO
Cruise ship tourists tour Tortola on bicycles. Photo: VINO
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) during the 2022 budget presentation at the House of Assembly on November 11, 2021, announced encouraging tourism numbers for the VI. Photo: YouTube.
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) during the 2022 budget presentation at the House of Assembly on November 11, 2021, announced encouraging tourism numbers for the VI. Photo: YouTube.
DUFF'S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI- In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affecting the world and travel, just shy of 38,000 travellers entered the Virgin Islands in the past few months, with the bulk of that figure registered as visitors.

“I am pleased to say that the Virgin Islands tourism industry is showing some encouraging signs for recovery particularly in the recent months and for this we must say to God be all the glory,” Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) announced on November 11, 2021, during the 2022 budget presentation at the House of Assembly at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom.

The premier said despite the unavoidable restrictions on travel such as reduced airlines and ferry capacities, which apply not only to the VI, the demand for the territory's sun, sand, sea and overall experience remained high.

Encouraging figures

“Up to the end of October, just below 38,000 persons entered the VI via the air and seaports, with the vast majority being visitors. With a more aggressive advocacy for mass vaccinations, the reduction of the BVI Gateway fee, and easing of the quarantine period for the fully vaccinated travellers, it is expected that the gradual increase in arrival numbers will continue through the rest of 2021 to reach a projected 46,000 overnighters and day-trippers,” he said.

The territory’s leader said cruise arrivals are also commendable.

“Based on the cruise schedules published by the VI Ports Authority, it was projected that a total of around 66,000 cruise passengers would visit our shores by the end of 2021.” 

Hon Fahie said while the VI will strive to be optimistic, “we have to also be realistic.”

“We must measure our expectations while global tourism recovers; we must take heed. We must address our thinking and our strategy. We must pivot to our strengths, improve on our weaknesses be cognizant of threats and take advantage of opportunities when they arise and to even create our own opportunities through innovation.”

Over the past week, the territory saw a total of four cruise ships docked at Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park and a large number of tourists getting off the ships.

12 Responses to “Close to 38,000 travellers entered VI in recent months”

  • TALK THAT (14/11/2021, 08:03) Like (14) Dislike (8) Reply
    The usvi is about 2 years ahead of us because of incompetence
    • wow (14/11/2021, 08:33) Like (10) Dislike (13) Reply
      look haul yuh tail this good Sunday morning bout USVi ahead of us 2 years...The BVI did it its own way and will be fine. The BVI doesn't have the US giving them millions of dollars and so it needed to be extra careful. That for me is wisdom-life over money. The BVI is back and will get stronger and stronger. Btw, go whisper a prayer of gratitude
      • @SMH (15/11/2021, 10:04) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
        But the millions of dollars that the US Government is giving them, they put it to good use and not filling their own pockets. The USVI IS 10 years ahead of the BVI in everything. We are not dropping in pot holes, messed up sidewalks. Sewage is not running rampant on our streets, no burning garbage dump, no overgrown bushes slapping the cars as they drive by. And the list goes on and on. No proper internet services, no cable services.


    • Reply (14/11/2021, 08:47) Like (4) Dislike (23) Reply
      I have to say we sticking with the vip
    • Hawy (15/11/2021, 07:08) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      38000 in a few months. What a pointless statistic! How many months? How many were genuine visitors rather than residents?
  • one eye (14/11/2021, 08:25) Like (6) Dislike (27) Reply
    Vip working hard for we
  • @ BOI (14/11/2021, 10:06) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    YOU JUST LOVE TO TOUT YOUR OWN HORN / AS USUAL DIFFERENT NAMES , SAME SONG , ( GET A GLOVE
  • W*F (14/11/2021, 13:40) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    As opposed to ever 1 million in 2016?
  • dog man (14/11/2021, 15:16) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    How much has covid
  • Sam (14/11/2021, 16:16) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    brick by brick our forefathers built this place, and straw by straw a bird builds its nest

    some of we acts like our territory prints money but as people we went through covid 19 we even lost many loves just to point out the seriousness of the pandemic and its effects on us

    bigger countries and greater economies are now getting over the struggles of covid 19; so who is little BVI

    Some of we even forget our territory relies heavily on others coming to the british virgin islands and most of those countries were lockdown because of the very same pandemic that rip apart our little territory

    lets become more greateful and thankful as bothers & sisters and push aside that slave mentality which often sees us wasting valuable time looking backwards rather than joining arm in arm in a valiantly effort to move down the narrow roads ahead of the people of this territory
  • Native Senior Citizen of the BVI (14/11/2021, 22:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ignorance is a price to high to pay, Knowledge, wisdom, and faith area gifts from God free to us all this and everyday.
    Give a baby a pacifier, they will sick on it. Give the gullible Wath they want to hear, they will rejoice as if the good news will benefit them personally.
    Allowed me please to remain us that the moneys that Govt. Spend is our money, we their employers, but they behaved, because of the majority of us ignorance that the money is their to do as they will.
    Thirty-eight thousand new visitors, mostly tourist. How much money are they spending, and who are greatly benefiting? Are we, the employer poor,, the people, or are vthey, the employees rich, our political imployees?
    The majority of us, I hope, know the answer, but do we has the the will power to to do what is best for us, or will we continue to allow a small group of mind stwisters to keep us in bondage, and blame the UK for our financial problems?
    He that can read and understand do so, and help others, as I am now doing. The future is ours, if we choose wisely, but if we don't, the merry-go-round for them continue.

    Truly, yours,
    Native Senior Citizen of the B.V.I



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