Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), in a ‘One on One’ Press conference alongside Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports, Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL), said preliminary feedback suggests that the 2022-2023 tourist season is already off to a positive start.

Incoming visitors for November 2022 totaled 17,523 compared to 10,759 in 2021, and incoming belongers totaled 5,834 in November 2022 compared to 2,986 in 2021.

For the December holiday season, he said incoming visitors in that month totaled 23,427 for 2022, compared to 18,098 in 2021, and incoming belongers totaled 7,223 in December 2022 compared to 4,984 in 2021. 

He added that during the holiday period, the VI saw a lot of activity as it related to tourist arrivals.

'Bigger & Better' for 2023

“For instance, the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport was very busy with flights coming in and going out. We saw a lot of jets parked at the airport. The seaport in Road Town was also very busy. The Old Year's parties at Trellis Bay, Jost van Dyke, and other venues attracted huge crowds, particularly compared to recent years.

According to Premier Wheatley, the local Director of Tourism, Mr Clive McCoy, has advised that in 2023, the VI will continue to see a lot of events on the calendar. 

“And these are going to get bigger and better as recovery in the global tourism and travel sectors continue following the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic impacts of the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” he declared.

Premier Dr Wheatley added that Mr McCoy has also advised that the Tourist Board will be focusing on training in hospitality and other related areas in the industry.

He said there will be a focus on improving customer service and visitor experience, made possible through a $10 million budgetary allocation for 2023.

The [British] Virgin Islands saw some 23,427 visitors in December 2022, compared to 18,098 in 2021, according to preliminary data

Premier and Minister of Finance, in a ‘One on One’ Press conference, alongside Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports, Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL), said preliminary feedback suggests that the 2022-2023 tourist season is already off to a positive start.

Scene from the 2022 Emancipation day J'ouvert. As the Virgin Islands (VI) continues its rebound from the perils of the COVID-19 pandemic, the territory continues to see increases in the arrivals of tourists in the post-pandemic period which has resulted in a forecast of a bigger and better tourism season for 2023.