The British Virgin Islands has been placed on Fodor’s list of destinations to reconsider visiting in 2025. The alarming article was released yesterday Wednesday, November 13th. The BVI is listed under ‘Destinations That Are Beginning To Suffer’
The article speaks to the condition of the Territory and the impact of cruise tourism on the destination.
“British Virgin Islands
The emphasis on cruise tourism is keeping tourist dollars out of resident’s hands, and the 13-year wait for a comprehensive tourism plan has left locals skeptical that improvements in development and infrastructure are on the horizon.
While tourism remains one of the “two pillars” of the British Virgin Islands’ economy–the other being financial services–there are growing concerns that the current trajectory may not entirely be in the best interests of the environment or the people who call the islands home.
One key issue is the overwhelming focus on cruise tourism. In the first half of 2024, the BVI saw a record number of visitors, driven largely by a post-pandemic surge in cruise ship passengers. The first six months of 2024 set a new tourism record, with over 683,000 visitors, a 17% increase from the same period in 2023. Cruise ship passengers now account for about 72% of total tourist arrivals. In contrast, overnight visitor numbers remain nearly 24% below their 2017 peak of 243,000. This shift is raising red flags, particularly as cruise tourists tend to spend less money locally compared to resort guests, who have historically brought in the bulk of tourism revenue.
Allington “Gumption” Creque, who owns a glass-bottom boat tour company, Sea It Clear Tours, has witnessed large groups of cruise passengers overwhelming local resources. He tells Fodor’sthat these tourists “aren’t spending that much money” during their short visits. This trend has led many, including opposition lawmaker Myron Walwyn, to argue that cruise tourism isn’t providing the economic benefitspeople might expect. Walwyn recently argued in the House of Assembly that “the sort of trickle-down you are looking for on land to the local restaurants and the car rental agencies—you are not getting that.”
Kye Rymer, the minister of communications and works, told the Assembly that the BVI will “not be able to accommodate” mass tourism, though no cap on arrivals has been proposed.
The former director of the BVI tourism bureau, Sharon Flax-Brutus, has also warned that the existing infrastructure will not be able to handle the growing tourist numbers. “One of the major challenges that we have in tourism, and we’ve had it for a lot of years, is that we don’t plan enough,” she told Speak Out BVI. “We don’t consider all the factors. We tend to look at the pros but forget the cons.”
Adding to frustrations is the often slow pace of infrastructure planning and repairs, as well as unrealistic timelines provided by the government. A wastewater treatment plant damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017 finally reopened earlier this year after numerous delays; while it was inoperable, raw sewage ran directly into the ocean.
The premier of the British overseas territory, Dr. Natalio Wheatley, recently announced the procurement of a $100 million loan for upgrades, though the number is far short of the $700 million initially projected for improvements.
This strain isn’t just on land. The BVI’s coral reefs, already vulnerable due to climate change, are facing additional stressors. While some protections are in place, including the establishment of a Climate Change Trust Fund Board, much remains unregulated. Lax rules on anchoring, coastal development, and reef-safe sunscreen are contributing to a major coral die-off.
Shannon Gore, a member of the Climate Change Trust Fund Board and managing director of the BVI Association of Reef Keepers, highlights the fact that although the government levies an environmental fee of $10 on tourists to fund the Climate Change Board and the National Parks Trust, the funds–worth $12.3 million–are still tied up, their distribution hampered by political foot-dragging.
Part of the problem is the government is working without a tourism plan–and has been since 2011. Gore says, “Successive governments keep promising a plan, but the strategy keeps changing.”
The premier, Dr. Wheatley–who is also the minister of finance, the minister of tourism, culture, and sustainable development, and recently also became the minister of financial services and trade–said in January a plan would be available this year. However, Dr. Wheatley now tells Fodor’s that a “policy will be released by the 30th of June 2025” and the “National Tourism Strategic Plan” will be introduced sometime within “the second third of 2025 into 2026.”
When asked about the difference between the policy and the plan, Dr. Wheatley says, “The policy will set direction, and the plan will be the implementation roadmap.”
Dr. Wheatley further acknowledges the BVIs are operating with “no current overarching policy in place” for tourism except for “policies related to the growth and expansion.” Which is exactly why we’re concerned.” Fodor
The full list and article can be found here https://www.fodors.com/news/news/fodors-no-list-2025
In his Budget Speech earlier this week, the Premier Natalio Wheatley continued to boast on cruise tourism numbers to justify the misconception of a well functioning economy and vibrant tourism product, despite the reality on the ground.
Overnight Sunday 10th November into the early hours of Monday, the Territory received some 4 inches of rain, causing floods across varying areas. The clean up post flood has been slow despite the Territory now in the height of the new tourist season.
Complaints continue to overwhelm social media platforms on the physical appearance and state of the Territory.
We’re told that the Premier and his Public Relations Team attempted to control the impact of the release of the article but were ‘unprepared’ to handle the matter, and appeared more aggressive and confrontational than being able to negotiate appropriately with Fodor.
Just yesterday Wednesday 13th November, former Deputy Premier Lorna Smith who was unceremoniously fired from Wheatley’s Government, wrote a scathing response to ‘untruths’ touted by Wheatley in an interview. In that letter, she said the Premier is unprepared to lead, calling his leadership style ‘scant’.
Who Is Fodor
Fodor's is a producer of English-language travel guides and online tourism information. It was founded by Hungarian Eugene Fodor, who created his first travel guide, 1936...on the Continent, with the intention of improving upon the directory-type travel guides in existence through the inclusion of practical guidance, such as tipping advice, and levity (the introduction noted that "Rome contains not only magnificent monuments but also Italians.").
Fodor's has published more than 440 guides (in 14 series) on over 300 destinations, and has more than 700 permanently placed researchers all over the world and has millions of followers. Its website, which was launched in 1996, was nominated for a Webby Award in 2004.