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More focus on Tourism needed- Hon Hodge-Smith

-says VI Tourism Plan coming
Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith (AL) has said more focus needs to be placed on tourism in the Virgin Islands (VI) following the November 11, 2024 budget address. Photo: Facebook
The long promised Tourism Plan for the Virgin Islands will be coming soon and will feature input from all interested parties. Photo: VINO/File
The long promised Tourism Plan for the Virgin Islands will be coming soon and will feature input from all interested parties. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4) has said more focus needs to be placed on tourism in the Virgin Islands (VI).

Hon Hodge-Smith was speaking during a post budget interview with government information officers.

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley presented the national budget on Monday, November 11, 2024, in the amount of four hundred and eighty-eight million, six hundred and ninety-nine thousand, eight hundred and seventy-one dollars ($488,699,871.00).

There’s a threat with Financial Services- Hon Hodge-Smith

Hon Hodge-Smith said tourism and the Financial Services Sector has been driving the Territory’s economy for decades however, there is a threat with the Financial Services Sector.

“We brought quite a bit of bills to the House of Assembly that needed to be urgently passed in order to safeguard our Financial Services Sector. So, there’s a threat with the Financial Services Sector so we have to focus a lot more on our tourism

Tourism she added does not only include sun, sea and sand but the VI’s culture and history

So that’s where culture and tourism comes in and to help sustain our tourism sector. We have to diversify it, we have to attract different types of visitors

Tourism Plan coming

Meanwhile the Junior Minister revealed the promised Tourism Plan for the VI will be coming soon.

“I know it was promised this year but we’re definitely going to be working on it as soon as possible. We already have connections with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation so we that we can start to plan to bring forward our tourism plan,” Hon Hodge-Smith said.

She added that everybody in the tourism industry as well as those who are interested will have an input in the Territory’s tourism plan before moving forward.

“We need to sustain ourselves, we need to of course enhance our products,” she stated.

12 Responses to “More focus on Tourism needed- Hon Hodge-Smith ”

  • troy smith (14/11/2024, 09:58) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    ???? what really need to happen is fix the road issue problem before you start talking about tourism
  • one eye (14/11/2024, 09:58) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    More talk no action
  • Interesting (14/11/2024, 10:09) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    The place is in need of fixing for more tourist to come and visit. It's not nice for people coming for the first time and not even seeing local arts on the wall, no proper statues in memory of locals and the list can go on.
  • Rip Van Winkle (14/11/2024, 10:39) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Plan for the VI will be coming soon.

    “I know it was promised this year but we’re definitely going to be working on it as soon as possible. We already have connections with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation so we that we can start to plan to bring forward our tourism plan,”

    D4 Rep. has not been repping at all! What have you tangibly contributed since you were elected to SERVE the people?

    I am waiting on your kind response D4 rep! The City of RT is a muddy,dirty run-down place...
  • Really??? (14/11/2024, 10:46) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Blah Blah Blah - a whole lot of talk and do nothing. Half a billion dollars plus another 100 million will be squandered and nothing will be done.
  • bvibuzz (14/11/2024, 10:59) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    she is just a nice lady not sure she built for this politicks
    • Really??? (14/11/2024, 12:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      How are you a nice person if you take a government salary and do nothing for the people? Wheel and come again.
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (14/11/2024, 11:13) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hon. Junior Minister, Luce D. Hodge-Smith, your are right that more more focus needed to be place on tourism, but running down infrastructure and badly ragged potholes traffic roads urgent repair BVI wide. In addition to those three ares of interest our political Leaders need to abruptly stop willfully and wastefully mismanaging our meager finances on unnecessary, needless, and random pleasure trips and profitless Music Festivities and hand-picks handouts.

    I don't nor should anyone expect "Good Governance for the people of the British Virgin Islands, but much better is within hand reach, if our political Leaders and many others would first curb their craving, lustful, greedy mindset.

    It is not ethnical diversities that have us stiffled, it is the majority of the people extreme greedy mindset, religious leaders and some low earners, too.

    God loves everyone, but he can't tolerate living nor lifeless idols.

    Righteousness exults a Nation, but sin is a reproach to any (people's best interest) people.
  • jjps (14/11/2024, 11:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    whatever you all do, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THE CUTTING OF THE ROAD AND THE VERGES THAT HON LORNA SMITH STARTED. PLEASE PRETTY, PRETTY PLEASE
  • Channel 11 (14/11/2024, 11:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Patience, she is waking up.
  • Citizen (14/11/2024, 11:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So they are going to work on it. After all these years, still nothing.
  • I say so (14/11/2024, 13:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Neither she or Dawson (Rep. for D1) is built for politics. So don’t expect them to perform. They allowed their loyalty to the party to turn them into politicians; hence setting them up for failure. They are both very articulate and good at public speaking and I dare say that nobody can dispute that.


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