Travellers must now cover cost of transportation upon arrival in BVI
The government will no longer be footing the transportation bill for travellers who arrive in the territory and require transportation to any accommodation or quarantine facility.
Since the territory reopened for visitors in December, government covered the cost of ground and marine transportation for all arrivals to their approved accommodations. The government has also but paying for round trip transfers between their accommodations and the designated testing sites on Day 4.
But the BVI Tourist Board said in a media statement on Wednesday that effective March 25, 2021, All passengers arriving in the BVI are now required to pay the cost of their ground transportation during quarantine from Day 0 to Day 4.
“Ground transportation costs will be calculated based on the official taxi tariff. Passengers can expect to pay between $5 and $30 per person, depending on the destination and the number of passengers. Passengers are expected to pay their driver directly in cash,” the Tourist Board said.
“All arriving passengers that depend on the established marine transportation from Tortola to other islands in the BVI, will have to cover the costs of marine transportation from Saturday, 24th April 2021,” it added.
Director of Tourism Clive McCoy stated the Tourist Board will carry out consultation with tourism stakeholders, the Taxi & Livery Commission and the government over the next 24 days.
These consultations will be to determine the best solution for covering the marine transportation costs after April 23.
“We want to urgently address marine transportation because the cost can be quite significant for persons travelling from Tortola to any of the other islands during this pandemic. Additionally, it should be noted that all protocols and procedures for transportation remain the same. The Taxi & Livery Commission will assign the approved ground and marine transportation, hence, travellers will not be allowed to make their own arrangements.”
Transportation is not covered in the travel authorisation fee paid by each passenger arriving in the territory via the BVIGateway portal.
The $175 Travel Authorisation Fee charged on the portal covers the cost of two RT/PCR tests at $70 each as well as a $35 fee for arriving travellers to be tagged with a tracking device.
But the BVI Tourist Board said in a media statement on Wednesday that effective March 25, 2021, All passengers arriving in the BVI are now required to pay the cost of their ground transportation during quarantine from Day 0 to Day 4.
“Ground transportation costs will be calculated based on the official taxi tariff. Passengers can expect to pay between $5 and $30 per person, depending on the destination and the number of passengers. Passengers are expected to pay their driver directly in cash,” the Tourist Board said.
“All arriving passengers that depend on the established marine transportation from Tortola to other islands in the BVI, will have to cover the costs of marine transportation from Saturday, 24th April 2021,” it added.
Director of Tourism Clive McCoy stated the Tourist Board will carry out consultation with tourism stakeholders, the Taxi & Livery Commission and the government over the next 24 days.
These consultations will be to determine the best solution for covering the marine transportation costs after April 23.
“We want to urgently address marine transportation because the cost can be quite significant for persons travelling from Tortola to any of the other islands during this pandemic. Additionally, it should be noted that all protocols and procedures for transportation remain the same. The Taxi & Livery Commission will assign the approved ground and marine transportation, hence, travellers will not be allowed to make their own arrangements.”
Transportation is not covered in the travel authorisation fee paid by each passenger arriving in the territory via the BVIGateway portal.
The $175 Travel Authorisation Fee charged on the portal covers the cost of two RT/PCR tests at $70 each as well as a $35 fee for arriving travellers to be tagged with a tracking device.
