Tourism is everybody’s business and the ability to successfully negotiate those direct flights from Miami to Beef Island has certainly been a blessing to these Virgin Islands and a game changer like no recent other! But now, we must put airport expansion 💯 as an infrastructural top priority! Whether we beg or borrow, as long as we do not steal, it has to happen, like yesterday!
“The Premier is bullish about tourism. As Tourism Minister, he must be for he recognizes that tourism is what puts the majority of BVI residents to work.
This week he held a tourism summit in collaboration with the BVIYHTA that put on the first summit in July 2023. It was done to such a high standard that our neighbours across the pond ran with the idea.
But BVI is still the sailing Mecca of the world and our coves, islands and islets cannot be duplicated unless you operate in the UAE or the South China Sea: And even then!
Indeed, the direct American flights from Miami that get heads in tourism beds cause others to tremble given the diminishing traffic through their jurisdictions.
It also deeply concerns our ferry owners and operators. Market share is disappearing.
But American Airlines cannot keep up with the demand. What was expected to be a single flight two to three times per week has turned into four to five flights per day and still there are issues.
The real concern is that the runway at the T.B Lettsome International Airport is too short and an extension is urgent.
The folly surfaces that we cannot afford it. That is true. But it is also true that we cannot afford our homes, yet we have them.
The airport must be the economic driver that supports the BVI economy; Give businesses the opportunity to be solvent; Get people to work; Put revenue back into the treasury; And that,! pays the airport loan.
But if our level of self respect causes us to insist on being parasites; To depend upon Antigua, St Marteen, Puerto Rico and St Thomas, then we are not who we pretend to be. And all the independence talk may be for other reasons.
So, will we bite the bullet for business and national security reasons? Time will show how deep the pusillanimous behaviour of decision makers can become.
But the summit!
The Tourism Minister was in his element; his rhetoric, inspiring. He believes in the product. He believes that tourism is really on the move. And cruise numbers support that belief.
But to have seen the legion of pleasure vessels that came to the BVI to enjoy Christmas and new year celebrations and the airport activity that supported overnight visitors together with the private aviation traffic, tell us that with a tweaking of the marketing strategy, BVI can thrive.
But we must put the brakes on crime for crime and tourism do not mix.
If we develop an immunity to crime we will be hurt in the long run. This is where the guidance and leadership of the Minister for National Security, the Governor, comes in.
Is the armour of state rusted? Is enforcement lax with too much swept under the carpet? Are policing and the work of the courts in winning cases as robust as they can be?
We noted that the National Security Minister halted the search for a Police Commissioner while speaking about the experience required of the post holder. We hope that the halt and the search are genuine.
We agree with the words of the Premier in closing his remarks at the summit that ‘the best years of the BVI are ahead of us.’ But it takes all of us to make it so.
Tourism is everybody’s business and we will shout that message from the rooftops …
….On Fridays
Happy Friday!”