An update from Premier Fahie has indicated that the delegation is comprised of Minister for Transportation and Works, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5), Junior Minister for Tourism Hon. Sharie B. de Castro, along with Dr Carolyn O'Neal Morton, who is the Permanent Secretary in the Premier's Office.

Other persons making up the delegation include officials from the BVI Tourist Board, BVI Ports Authority, and Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park.

According to the Premier, the day was kicked off with an internal meeting with the team ahead of the event which will see some 500 exhibitors sharing the very latest in cruise tech, design, and services from the show floor.

Ahead of the meetings, the Premier during an April 22, 2022, press conference said his delegation will try to ‘shore up ‘ VI’s cruise tourism even further and will report on the results of the conference on his return.

Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), left, in an internal meeting with his VI delegation in Miami.

No complacency in VI - Premier

The Premier reminded that the VI must not be complacent, as there is always room for improvement and that the territory can keep finding ways to further enhance visitor experience.

He pointed to the return of the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival after two years of absence and noted that the events resulted in hotels, guest homes, car rentals and even private homes and vehicles being booked out.

“I wish to congratulate the Virgin Gorda Festival sub-committee and the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee, and the Minister of Culture and his team and all the other stakeholders, for their outstanding work in reviving the Easter Festival in Virgin Gorda, and keeping our culture alive,” he added.

The Seatrade Cruise Global Conference will be held from April 25 to April 28, 2022, at Miami Beach Convention Centre and will bring together visionaries, experts, and thousands of like-minded cruise professionals for business and networking.

Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), during a press conference on Friday, April 22, 2022, said he will be leading a Virgin Islands' delegation to the 2022 Seatrade Cruise Global Conference 'so that we can shore up our cruise tourism even further'.

Cruise tourism has rebounded well in the Virgin Islands, after it came to a grinding halt in March 2020 due to the global coronavirus pandemic.