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VI must identify trends & demands of millennial cruise tourists– Hon Rymer

-as an estimated 87% of millennials ready to cruise in 2022
With the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) estimating that some 87% of millennials have indicated a willingness to cruise in 2022, Deputy Premier, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R7) said the VI must identify those millennial trends to cater to the demographic. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Hon Rymer said, however, that he does not believe the current VI tourism product is very attractive to the millennials market segment and that much change. Photo: Internet Source
Hon Rymer said, however, that he does not believe the current VI tourism product is very attractive to the millennials market segment and that much change. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – With the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) estimating that some 87% of millennials have indicated a willingness to cruise in 2022, Deputy Premier Hon Kye M. Rymer (R7) said the Virgin Islands must identify those millennial trends to cater to the demographic.

He added, “As a result, CLIA estimated that the entire global cruise fleet’s return should result in a 2023 demand that is equal to 2019 levels. On this point, I should add that we need to look at what the trends and demands are for millennials and ensure that we are positioning ourselves to attract this market,” Hon Rymer said in a speech on Friday, May 13, 2022. 

Hon Rymer said; however, that he does not believe the current VI tourism product is very attractive to the millennials market segment and that must change. 

The Deputy Premier in the speech said trends have also highlighted a strong focus on sustainability coming out of the recent Global Seatrade Conference in Miami.

“Details and goals for the industry's sustainability commitment and progress were presented, and it was stressed that the industry is resolved to be a leader in sustainability with CLIA’s oceangoing member lines committing to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Net-zero translates to "no carbon emissions." 

More sustainability 

He added that in the meantime the Cruise industry will continue to ramp up sustainability efforts with the use of batteries, fuel cells, and green LNG power. 

“One option that was raised in helping to keep port communities greener is that ships plug into the existing electric grid, rather than running their engines in port.”

Hon Rymer said coming out of the conference, many ships are ready to receive shore power, and local communities that ships visit are looking at and making decisions to provide what is needed in that regard.

He added that those are just some of the things the VI must look at as the territory aims to continue the growth of its cruise industry as well as market share.

31 Responses to “VI must identify trends & demands of millennial cruise tourists– Hon Rymer”

  • deputy head coach\ (19/05/2022, 08:22) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ayo please dont forget the overnight and yacht tourists
  • BVI tourist (19/05/2022, 08:26) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Your government wants thousands of cruise ship tourists, but keeps the USVI day trip tourists out with fees & regulations due to Covid? OK, got it....
  • dg (19/05/2022, 08:40) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops
    Oh what a rain that will be
    Standing outside with my mouth opened wide
    Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
    If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops
    Oh what a rain that would be
    Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
  • Rodney (19/05/2022, 08:56) Like (19) Dislike (4) Reply
    Please no more dolphin discovery though. Millennials do not want this.
    • Hmm (19/05/2022, 10:20) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Seeing as the speech from the throne indicted a willingness to reform in this area, maybe the cannabis legislation would have been assented had it been fairer, and had the dishonorable premier not allegedly been involved with stuffing his pockets to our detriment.

      The current premier promised to fight for rights of rastafari & religious groups in the committee stage, unfortunately the final bill to my knowledge had no stipulations for affected minorities & religious customs.
  • Hmm (19/05/2022, 10:12) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    Older Folks dont want to hear it but fact is cannabis tourism is a big attractor for the globe's young -and educated- population.
  • The TRUTH (19/05/2022, 10:39) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Millennials want fun things to do not just sit on a beach. Rock climbing, parasailing, jet skis....something
  • cruiser (19/05/2022, 11:11) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Premier should go on a looooong cruise on several different cruise ships before he blindly repeats the propaganda from the CLIA concerning millennials. Age, trends, demands, sex, young, old, special needs, couples, singles, families, etc. etc. does not matter at all. Bottom line is there are only 2 types of cruisers: Active and Inactive. The active people move around all the time and also eat and drink less. The inactive people lie and sit around all day and night drinking and eating in excess. The active people are often repetitive cruisers while the inactive people cruise a few times then die. It's not rocket science.
    • Smile (20/05/2022, 09:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

      these ppl always talking outta their b-h***s without thinking. one of these ships use more power than the whole of the bvi. how we going provide that when we cant even provide for the bvi. and if they killing we with the surcharge what them going to do to the ships. what a set of moo-moos.

  • Backasss (19/05/2022, 11:18) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    87% of millenials? Or, 87% of millenials surveyed? There’s a big difference.
    And, a ship plugging into BVI EC? More like BVI EC requiring them to run ship’s electrical generation so they can put it into the grid
  • Wrong again (19/05/2022, 11:33) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    So Wrong... Again.
    We don't need to do anything with regard to the polluting and fruitless cruise tourism market. They leave behind their rubbish and their faecal matter, while their spending locally is negligible, meanwhile we wait our time and money bowing to them.
    Instead, if the new Premier wanted to be really proactive on the tourism front, he'd take charge of HM Customs and get those parasites off of ruining the charter yachting industry (the tourists that really do spend money here!).
    Sadly, having good sense and foresight has never been a prerequisite for running government though.
    • @Wrong again (19/05/2022, 16:17) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      You forgot to mention the cruise ship folks really put off the villa & hotel guests too - and these guests spend a lot of money when they are here.
      • Wrong again (20/05/2022, 11:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Too true.
        Visitors here didn't used to reveal to their friends where they were going, the BVI was their secret, Cane Garden Bay a hidden gem.
        Nowadays they ask what days the cruise ships will NOT be in.
  • !! (19/05/2022, 12:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please keep in mind the age range of actual millennials. Which is early 30’s to early 40’s. Which will most likely be growing families, including kids. With the occasional party groups.
  • VG Resident (19/05/2022, 12:19) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    What difference does it make whether the ship makes its own power uisng bunker fuel or the BVIEC makes the electricity for the ship using bunker fuel. Bottom line is bunker fuel will be used. Stupid idea.
  • VG Resident (19/05/2022, 12:29) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    How about no masks anywhere and easier and less expensive travel into the BVI
  • WHY? (19/05/2022, 13:27) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why is the Minister of Communications the one speaking about this? Not because you attended Seatrade you are suddenly an expert in the Hospitality field. Just stop it! Please you are repeating the same mistakes.

    And while you are at it, please ask the Premier to remove BVIEC from you portfolio. You already said you have a conflict. It is wrong wrong wrong. Again, you are repeating the same mistakes and we the people have had enough!
  • Lb (19/05/2022, 14:01) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    It continues to baffle me how elected official after elected official continue to spew nonsense about a field they know nothing about! appoint people to the tourist board who have no clue or knowledge about tourism. They never take time to speak to the experts at the Tourist Board and the experts who make a living from real tourism. Why is he talking about Cruise that contributes that absolute least to our tourism economy. We are not a cruise destination like St. Maarten, USVI, Jamaica and the rest. Our money is made by day trippers from the USVI and Puerto Rico. Our money is made by 5, 7 and 10 day yacht charters. Our money is made by overnight guests staying in our villas, island resorts and cornerstone properties like Little Dix Bay, Long Bay, Sebastians, and such.

    But instead they rather listen to the self-serving chat from CLIA and then come spit the nonsense to us like as though it is the gospel. You elected officials need to learn the industry from us in the industry first.

    You need to go look at the laws that are chasing our yachting industry away. Laws that make it hard for sports fishing to occur. Laws that are double taxing dive operators and their guest. Laws that are making it extremely expensive for day trippers to come from the USVI. You need to look at laws that will make it attractive for mega-yachts to call BVI their home port. You need to fix the mess over at YCCS between the Prince and Johnson, in order to get that mega yacht facility back up and running! Step in and make a decision on the sea bed rights. You need to look at working with airlines to increase routes to the BVI! You need to fix Taddy Bay Airport and Auguste Airports so private planes can land directly and clear customs and immigration.

    Instead the blind is leading the blind. From Ministers of Tourism to chairperson of the Board, to the Director and now the Deputy Premier. No proper direction and no real knowledge of what is needed for the industry to thrive! Fix it Jesus!
    • @Lb (19/05/2022, 16:21) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Can I give this comment a hundred votes? Having cruise ship here really detracts from the higher end guests in the villas, hotels & charter boats.
    • BVI tourist (19/05/2022, 16:27) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
      @LB - You & VG Resident need to run for office! The laws & fees have basically eliminated day trips from USVI for over 2 years now. It was bad enough before Covid when it was just a $75 pp customs fee to enter, and yet we still came. We were hoping to take 2 day trips from STJ to BVI last summer. We instead took 2 trips around STJ, saved a boat load of $$$ in customs fees, and were happy to support our local businesses. The Lime Out in STJ is awesome!
  • Are you that stupid? (19/05/2022, 14:13) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    “One option that was raised in helping to keep port communities greener is that ships plug into the existing electric grid, rather than running their engines in port.”


    BVIEC Burns practically the same fuel making power that this ship does lol.
  • Sick of all of you (19/05/2022, 14:38) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    The only thing you all need is someone catching you all a good knock out blow from behind.
  • Wayne DEAD (19/05/2022, 14:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well they want to smoke WEED POP LOUD.
  • idk (19/05/2022, 15:23) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    I'll say focus on the needs of bvi Islanders and locals b4 worrying about outside tourists
    • BVI tourist (19/05/2022, 22:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @idk - Your needs are to bring tourists to support your economy.
  • Yes & No (19/05/2022, 16:07) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well, yes and no. The VI needs to develop a unique tourism product, not identify trends - because, by definition, trends shift constantly. However, the VI needs to recognize common themes in various year-round tourist destinations and choose which to emulate in a VI way. I can tell the BVI one common sense thing that has been missed from birth until now: Most tourists travel on weekends or holidays. The BVI closes down for weekends and holidays. Also, most tourists seek nightlife. There is no nightlife in the BVI. I don't know if that is stupidity or ignorance. One more. In these times, tourists need cheap, reliable, and quick access to wifi from the time they hit the airport, which is also disposable when they leave. No such thing exists in the BVI. We've missed the very basics.
  • @Lb (19/05/2022, 16:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    You forgot one point which is that more cruise ships will make the taxi drivers happy and don’t they make up the voting population?!


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