'Tourism is bustling' with 995K tourists arrivals recorded in 2023– Premier
“Tourism is bustling,' Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said as he welcomed cruise passengers and celebrated the second-highest number of visitors ever recorded in the history of the Virgin Islands, the Office of the Premier said in an update on January 15, 2024.
The 995,000 visitors in 2023 were just short of 1.1 million, which is the highest number of arrivals recorded in 2016.
The Premier’s Office said 2024 promises to bring even greater success to the tourism industry.
Meanwhile, the increase forecast comes as the VI gov’t in 2023, was criticised for attending international networking events connected to tourism.
In 2023, following the attendance to the Monaco Yacht Show on October 1, 2023, the Premier, who led a delegation that included Director of the BVI Shipping Registry Mr John M. Samuel, and Jr Minister for Tourism and Culture Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4), received harsh criticism for the travels.
Gov't criticised for networking travels
Answering questions from the media during a press conference on October 6, 2023, Premier Wheatley said his delegation was able to learn a lot from the trip.
“Yes, we did learn a lot from going to Monaco… just from a perspective of tourism, Dr Whearley said, adding that Monaco attracts many visitors and the delegation was able to see first-hand the level of service the sovereign city-state is able to provide.”
Premier Wheatley detailed that the VI has a great tourism product; however, there are some areas that can be improved upon and that remains a mandate of his administration.
He also challenged Virgin Islanders and those in the tourism industry to travel more to see what they can learn from other tourism destinations to improve the local tourism product.
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22 Responses to “'Tourism is bustling' with 995K tourists arrivals recorded in 2023– Premier”
Hon please go on a diet
love the red shirt though, the colour fits you.
1. How much has tourism contributed to GDP in 2023?
2. How many direct, indirect, and induce employees does tourism generate?
3. Is the environment in the VI aesthetically pleasing for tourism?
4. On average, how much does a cruise passenger spend per day?
5. On average, how much does an overnight passenger spend per day?
6. How much is the territory spending per capita to bring a tourist to the BVI? Is it a good investment?
7. How is the revenue from tourism contributing to growth and development?
8. How much do tourism contribute to government coffers?
9. If tourism stumbles and tumbles what happens to tourism?
10. Is the physical infrastructure in a functional state to facilitate the quiet and enjoyment of tourists and residents?
12. How much do tourism contribute to infrastructure development?
By all accounts numbers at the hotels - both large and small are significantly down.
MR Premier - you MUST have these numbers - if so, speak on these. if you don't, we know that you are playing games....
"Based on ongoing trends and projected estimates, the forecast indicates that passenger numbers are set to reach an impressive Seven Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand Four Hundred and Eighty-Nine (794,489) during the upcoming tourism season. This figure surpasses the previous highest recorded cruise passenger arrival number in 2016, which is indicated as Six Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand One Hundred and Five (699,105) passengers and is sourced from statistics provided by the Central Statistics Office."
If it was reported in September 2023 that the highest on record was 699,105, how in January 2024 can that number now be 1.1 million as reported by the Minister for Tourism?? You just cant make this stuff up. Why are getting inaccurate information from the Highest Office in the land on such a simple matter? Can you imagine what other inaccurate information we are receiving?
The impact of so many passengers on the islands at one time has a very negative effect on the sailing tourism and the overnight visitors. The land and sea tourists spend many $$ here, and give major employment.
It is high time for the number of cruise ships allowed in port at one time to be curtailed.