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Estimated 512 cruise calls booked for 2024 in VI – BVIPA

I – Projected to be a record year for cruise tourism in the Virgin Islands, an Estimated 512 Cruise calls have already been booked for the 2024 year according to data from the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA). Photo: Internet Source
Projected to be a record year for cruise tourism in the Virgin Islands, an Estimated 512 Cruise calls have already been booked for the 2024 year according to data from the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA). Photo: GIS/Facebook
Projected to be a record year for cruise tourism in the Virgin Islands, an Estimated 512 Cruise calls have already been booked for the 2024 year according to data from the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA). Photo: GIS/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Projected to be a record year for cruise tourism in the Virgin Islands, an Estimated 512 Cruise calls have already been booked for the 2024 year according to data from the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA).

Marketing Director of the BVI Ports Authority, Ms Natasha J. Challwell revealed the stats during a press conference on the recent Seatrade Visit in Miami Florida in the VI. 

“So we have 512 calls booked for 2024, that would give us about just a little over 795,000 passengers and it's give or take…During a season we may lose calls due to weather or we may pick up calls, you know, for various reasons as well,” she said.

Ms Challwell added the figure is an estimate and already, the 2025 year looking higher than 2024 in terms of early projections.

Minister confirms record year 

The new figures come as Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) already indicated that 2025 will be a record year for the VI. 

The Minister first shared the projection during an interview with the Government Information Service (GIS) at Seatrade Cruise Global 2024, in Miami, Florida on Thursday, April 11, 2024. 

“The BVI is desired. The BVI is a place where the cruise industry wants to come to the BVI and we are happy to try to facilitate that,” he said in the interview with the Government Information Service. 

Hon Rymer said he was looking forward to a successful continuation of the tourism season in 2024 and into 2025, “The numbers already coming in for 2025 will surpass those that we have seen anytime in our history,” he said.

12 Responses to “Estimated 512 cruise calls booked for 2024 in VI – BVIPA ”

  • fish (20/04/2024, 12:12) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    Great news
  • Great. (20/04/2024, 12:27) Like (9) Dislike (5) Reply
    No matter how you all spin it. We are falling behind. No matter what people may say Cruise is the future. We cannot compete with one Dock..When I see places like Antigua and St. Kitts with 4 ships in port all most daily. This Idea that we cannot accommodate 4 Cruise ship is nonsense, we have more and better beaches than those places..If we need to we can use more of long Bay, Improve Smugglers Cove..Collect $1,00 more per head to have 8hrs life Guard and security on each beach..You have 2 ships with 70,000.00 passengers. $1,00 a head is $7,000.00 than can easily pay 10 life Guards and 10 security Guards for beach safety.If you pay 10 life guards $200,00 per day that $2,000. Ten Security Guard $140. a day that $1,400 per day total for beach safe per day= $3,400.00. Half of what you will be collecting..Get a beach safety manager in charge of beach safety. We bring and offer something special and different to the industry... How nice..
    • watch (20/04/2024, 19:12) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
      You have described just how to ruin us as a tourist destination. Bring in millions of cheap non spending tourists and chase away the high spending land based and boating tourists. We are killing the golden goose . Taxi drivers and. government make the money while the rest of us just see an overcrowded territory.
    • Look closer (26/04/2024, 23:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      The Ports don't collect the head tax or else they can use those funds to build or god forbid improve the existing infastructure. Guess who get's the $5 x 795,000? Look closer!
  • 2024 (20/04/2024, 12:46) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    just 2 questions

    can the administration inform the general public as to how much revenue will be generated from cruise ship operations in this country(profits & lost factors) or is it a Trade Secret

    Can the Administration inform the General Public as to how much of the Tax Payers Money will be given to each Artist for their Performance in this territory(or is that a trade secret

    run talk that
  • security advisor (20/04/2024, 14:23) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    The visiting ships and tourists will be just fine as long as they pack heat. Its gotten around what can happen to foreigners in the British Virgin Islands if something goes wrong or someone of some influence doesn't like one or a few. So now your visiting bank will protect itself from you. And of course in this age one can just push a button and accidently drop something. Right?
  • Welcome! (20/04/2024, 14:48) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Welcome to GHETTOLA
  • @ great. (20/04/2024, 15:07) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    Let the crazy girl on zrod take this bvi on the move yall
  • Wellsah (20/04/2024, 18:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    sure. st thomas dont even have much more volume scheduled with 4+ boats in on a good day
  • facts (21/04/2024, 01:39) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    The vip is still the best hope for the bvi
  • NB (21/04/2024, 08:05) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes we in the rise. Let’s welcome them to $h!t city. Where the smell is inviting and the scenes are breathtaking…. No pun intended.
  • Give them their money (26/04/2024, 23:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Gov't should NOT be collecting the head tax...give it to PORTS. Blame Vanterpool


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