‘We’ve been convinced sharing our money with [USVI] is a good thing’- Elvin G. Grant
The longstanding issue of tourists preferring to land at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, USVI, before taking a ferry to the Virgin Islands (VI), panelists argued, hampers the VI’s ability to fully capitalise on its tourism potential.
Co-host Elvin G. Grant spoke to the competitive disadvantage of the status quo, arguing, “If the vision and understanding of tourism were at a higher level, we would have been booming long ago. Instead, we’ve been convinced that sharing our money with the [US] Virgin Islands is a good thing.”
He pointed to how the USVI benefits from this situation while the VI struggles to leverage its own Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport for direct arrivals.
Guest Mr Ian A. Thomas aka DJ Commodore supported the point, emphasising the need to enhance the airport's infrastructure to make it a more viable option for international tourists, calling on the administration to “fix the airport infrastructure; make it better to attract more people landing in BVI instead of coming through St. Thomas. It's time to stop playing catch-up.”
Leaders ‘don’t take tourism seriously’- DJ Commodore
He used the occasion to also explore how the VI’s tourism sector has stagnated over the years despite its long history in the industry.
Mr Thomas in giving a candid assessment posits, “Our leaders don’t take tourism seriously as a great product. They talk about it but don’t put enough effort into making it what it could be.
He, as such, described the lack of a clear tourism vision as a fundamental bugbear, qualifying this position saying, “We don’t have a plan to rally around.”
According to the local businessman, “Where is the tourism plan? What do we want to look like as a destination 10 years from now? Other islands like St. Kitts (and Nevis) and Antigua are moving ahead because they have long-term strategies.”
Mr Grant, in echoing the businessman’s sentiment, also criticised the lack of foresight in the industry, telling listeners, “Without a vision, people perish; we are in a very competitive industry, and other territories that started tourism decades after us are now far ahead. It’s embarrassing.”
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25 Responses to “‘We’ve been convinced sharing our money with [USVI] is a good thing’- Elvin G. Grant”
Pelagic fishing has been a subject of discussion and has never been pursued. Individual district's tourism needs to be developed. Tortola's infrastructure has to be up to par for all tourists whether they pass through to other islands or stay overnight. The marijuana and gambling issues need to be resolved. The government has to make a capital commitment to our tourism products. "The journey begins with the first step".
Therefore the interpretation that BVI Government members have a stake in these activities and the lack of zest in curtailment of trafficking and illegal transport to the USVI via the BVI amounts to a glance now and then.
The US in my opinion,should employ severe restrictions and traffic to the USVI via BVI. An embargo for the safety of the region and its people .
Who funding ours?
Why is the idea of piggy backing off a larger airport so bad?
The investment is mind in 300 million? That will take forever to recoup, so perhaps this is more an ego or statement than good business sense?