Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said the arrival of the UberSoca Cruise underscores the Virgin Islands' growing status as an emerging hub for entertainment driven tourism in the Caribbean. Photo: Facebook

Scenes from the J’ouvert 'Punk Rock' Edition as part of the inaugural call of UberSoca Cruise in the Virgin Islands on November 18, 2025. Photo: Facebookr

During a press conference on Friday, November 21, 2025, he expressed satisfaction with the arrival of the UberSoca Cruise to the Virgin Islands, stating, "This event drew thousands of visitors to our shores, underscoring our growing status as an emerging hub for entertainment-driven tourism in the Caribbean."

The Premier emphasised that the UberSoca Cruise showcased the best of the Virgin Islands—its people, culture, creativity, and spirit—while demonstrating the significant economic potential of entertainment and cultural expression to enhance our tourism product.

The premier congratulated Virgin Islands entertainers such as Jugo, boss, TJ, and Pascal, who he termed are "musical ambassadors for the Virgin Islands". 

"In 2026, we'll continue to strengthen our tourism sector by enhancing our product with the incredible talents of our artists, musicians, and promoters who are making entertainment, tourism possible," he added. 

Hon. Wheatley also acknowledged the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sustainable Development, along with the events management team at the BVI Tourist Board and numerous volunteers, for their excellent preparations for the arrival of our friends from across the waters.

Will the data be made public?

Premier Wheatley stated, "We are presently analysing the data, so we can understand the economic impact of this event. We have surveys being completed by vendors and cruise goers. This will be the approach we will take to any event with significant government sponsorship."

When asked whether the data would be published to the media and the public, the Premier replied that he would be happy to share that information.

"We are developing a policy and sponsorship, and that policy will dictate how we deal with reports following events, but we recognise the responsibility that we have to the public to explain how, you know, public funds are used. So we'll be happy to share that data when it becomes available, and that's not just for this event, but for any event with significant government sponsorship.’’