'We have 2 full months to prepare & we must get it right!'

With the date for reopening the Territory’s borders to international travellers now slated for December 1, 2020, Premier and Minister responsible for Tourism, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said residents and the business community must all play their part as the Virgin Islands readies itself for that important milestone.

Speaking during the launch of the BVI Tourist Board’s ‘BVI Love’ campaign on Monday, September 21, 2020; Honourable Fahie said discipline must be the order of the day, as it relates to complying with the COVID-19 suppression measures implemented by his administration.

“This will also reduce or eliminate any possible spread of the virus; however, with our size being a strength it can also be a weakness and a major risk factor that if the spreading of the virus ever occurs; it can spread through the community very, very fast,” he said.

The BVILOVE Campaign was launched by the BVI Tourist Board on September 21, 2020.

He continued: “We have to mitigate this, and you may ask how do we do this? By each of us, from now, holding each other accountable thereby ensuring that we wear our masks, staying six feet apart, washing our hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds minimum, sanitising, along with adhering to all other approved social measure protocols—for us individually and for each business—we can successfully operate in this “New Regular” of the COVID-19 era.”

Comply

Premier Fahie also urged all to respect the authorities who are enforcing the approved social measures.

“These include the Social Distancing Task Force, Environmental Health and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force. Avoid getting a ticket for not wearing your mask or for not adhering to all the other social measures. Please, in this case, do not pay to learn. Play your part and play it well. We must be a disciplined people in order for the reopening of our borders to tourist and others to work effectively and reduce risk,” he pointed out.

New image for BVITB

Meanwhile, Director of the BVITB Mr Clive McCoy said the new image for the BVITB is about the uniqueness of the Territory.

“BVILOVE’s campaign is designed to bolster BVI’s image locally, regionally and abroad by focusing on what makes the BVI a special destination and business jurisdiction,” he said.

Director of Tourism, Mr Clive McCoy said the BVILOVE campaign is designed to bolster the Territory’s image locally, regionally and abroad by focusing on what makes the Virgin Islands a special destination and business jurisdiction.

“BVILOVE is what binds us together. It is a reminder that we are unique. BVILOVE is a call to action, to grow, to be better, to stand firm where we are excellent, to revamp and improve on where we were yesterday, to modernise, to focus on our strong points, and to remember that our resilient BVILOVE is what keeps us going,” he added.

The Territory has been closed to international travellers since March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

#the Virgin Islands #Andrew A. Fahie #Coronavirus #COVID-19 #Fahie #Covid