Premier and Minister for Finance and Tourism, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie said he was not on a vacation when he and his delegation went to the 2021 Seatrade Cruise Global conference held in Miami, Florida, and he has over 70 more cruise calls to prove it.

“We went to Sea Trade to get some more cruise industry partners coming back, and I will report on that some more because we were very successful with God’s help, we got a lot of more cruise liners, fully vaccinated from 12 up, and we are talking about more than 70 of them within a year to make calls,” he said in a brief update on his trip during the Prayer and Candlelight Vigil in remembrance of Miya Marcano at the Benjamin Romney Park in West End on Sunday, October 3, 2021.

He added that he would give a further update, but “I just needed to pitch in here for anyone who think that I went on a vacation.”

According to the Premier, Seatrade Cruise Global provides an opportunity for the delegation to meet with ports, cruise lines, and members of the international cruise community to source partners, network with peers both new and known, and to hear insights from leading industry players.

This he said, comes as the VI Government is working toward ensuring a safe resumption of the local cruise industry.

He also met with representatives from the neighbouring U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) to discuss the safe restart of passenger cruise in the region as well as with Holland America, Seabourn, Royal Caribbean Group, Seadream Yacht Club, and Virgin Cruises.

The conference commenced on September 27 and will culminate on October 31, 2021.

In-person sessions have ended, but the dialogue continues virtually.