BVI to get long-awaited tourism policy, says premier

British Virgin Islands Premier Natalio Wheatley says the territory will have a long-awaited National Tourism Policy by the end of June.

He made the statement during a recent press conference where the premier addressed developments in the territory’s tourism sector following the recent National Tourism Summit.

Wheatley revealed that consultations for the policy are underway and will involve stakeholders across all major islands.

“We’ve had some conversations about the challenges of overcrowding,” Dr Wheatley explained. “This year I want to pull all stakeholders together so we can put forward some solutions to make sure that we properly distribute the tourists.”

He said the policy would guide the BVI in tackling challenges and seizing opportunities in the dynamic global tourism market.

The National Tourism Summit, held earlier this month at the reopened Peter Island Resort, brought together 200 tourism stakeholders. The summit laid the groundwork for the policy and accompanying National Tourism Plan.

Discussions focused on innovation, sustainability, and improving visitor experiences to strengthen the BVI’s tourism brand.

“The summit served as a launch pad for the formulation of the National Tourism Policy and also the National Tourism Plan,” Wheatley.

He also highlighted record-breaking achievements in tourism over the past year, with visitor arrivals surpassing one million for the first time since 2016. Cruise ship visitors reached 768,293—a 6.8 per cent increase compared to 2023—while overnight visitors rose by 16.7 per cent to 305,876. Day-tripper arrivals also set a record at 17,970, reflecting a 35.1 per cent increase from the previous year.

“This is a testament to the resilience of our tourism sector,” he stated.

The premier added that despite the positive figures, the government is addressing critical areas for improvement.

Among the priorities for 2025 are enhanced transportation, cultural tourism, and the prevention of overcrowding at popular sites. The Premier also stressed the importance of strengthening the territory’s cultural offerings to enhance visitor experiences.

“We want to be able to upgrade our offerings and improve our product. And part of what we want to strengthen is getting our cultural product up to par. And that just means cultivating an experience that’s accessible to both cruise passengers and to overnight guests,” he explained.

The government plans to issue a request for proposals soon to hire a consultant for the National Tourism Plan. Wheatley expressed confidence in the newly formed Ministry of Tourism, established in 2023, to lead the initiative.

SOURCE: CMC