North Sound by night is a beauty and when it is inhabited by the considerable number of vessels that were anchored there on Tuesday evening, one begins to understand the sheer potential of the tourism industry in the British Virgin Islands.

But what happens in the North Sound is not distinctive in the BVI.  There are other bays and coves scattered amongst our sixty islands, rocks and cays where boaters find their special anchorage that helps them with unforgettable memories.

They are hooked and become part of the cult like following that nigh moves heaven and earth to sail in BVIs pristine waters and enjoy its cuisine and hospitality on sea or on land.

Tourism is the golden goose that must be protected at all costs.

It helps that we have the most striking natural beauty that possibly exists on the planet.  But beauty alone does not make the product and the product itself cannot sustain the industry. 

It must be backed up by infrastructure and complemented by exceptional service and expert guidance by the tourism minister and his team of professionals with the voice of the industry, the Yachting, Hotel and Tourism Association, inculcating industry views.

Of course, safety and cleanliness are crucial ingredients in the tourism pie.

A few weeks ago, a visitor came to the BVI on an errand.  But he was momentarily floored and distracted by the beauty he encountered.  His company was engaged in the AI mapping of the transmission and distribution systems for BVIEC.  

At completion, with the aid of drones and vehicle mounted cameras and AI, BVIEC will have a clear map and the GPS location of all its assets.  Every corner of the Territory will be touched and the efficiency of the Corporation will increase a hundred-fold.

And with Artificial intelligence examining the images from the drone and cameras, the data will allow assets in need of repair to be identified and their precise location known almost instantaneously. 

The selling point, possibly for tourism, law enforcement and others, is an accurate locator with street views for the entire territory.   So, when a customer of the Corporation has a complaint (s)he will not have to wait for 24 hours to be located.

It is amazing what can be accomplished for country when the Minister shares his policy direction and vision with his technocrats.  

Unnecessary secrecy from the very people who are appointed to manage Ministry portfolios has been standing in the way of the Territory’s progress ever since the 2007 Constitution granted BVI a Cabinet System of Government.

Where we should have risen, we have fallen in mistakenly thinking that power is to be grabbed and hoarded.  But like everything else, that which is not shared ceases to be proprietary.

But where we cannot afford to fall is in matters related to tourism for it is the backbone of the BVI economy.  

All those in the sub region who are boasting of strong tourist numbers, where ours are weak, have had two ingredients that our tourism pie lacks; Strong marketing dollars and policies that encourage investors. 

Imagine what they could do if they had our product.  Imagine what we could do if we had their advertising budget and their countries’ commitment to tourism infrastructural development. 

But imagine what improvements we can demand because we have Fridays.

Happy Friday!