Premier: Airport expansion will not happen like tomorrow!
Speaking at a press conference held yesterday afternoon April 17, 2012 in the Premier’s Conference Room, Dr. Smith, who is also the Minister responsible for Tourism, stated that one of Government’s initiatives to ensure long term sustainability of the tourism industry was to maintain direct access for tourists to the Territory.
He noted that while Government is looking at the expansion of the Beef Island Airport they are “aware that will not happen like tomorrow so we have to put measures in place to make sure that our visitors arrive here in good time”.
While they are forging ahead with consultations locally, regionally and internationally to bring on stream commercial jets to fly directly to the USA, Asia and Europe, Premier Smith announced that his Government is also in discussions with LIAT to have more regular flights between the Virgin Islands and Puerto, as American Airlines has reduced their flights and LIAT has also been considering reducing theirs.
Talks are also being held with LIAT for better access to Antigua for connecting flights and also with the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) to open the airport earlier to accommodate those flights.
Premier Smith noted that while the discussions with the airlines are going well and very positive, the financial difficulty of LIAT which is being experienced by airlines generally is a factor that has to be considered.
Discussions are also being held with BVI Airways, according to the Premier, who disclosed that the company wants to start flights between the Territory and Miami and intends to do so within the next few months. He said currently they are negotiating with the regulatory authority to ensure everything is in place.
He said discussions are also being held with CAPE Air for direct flights to St. Thomas from Beef Island for those who do not wish to travel by ferry.
For those who may still prefer the ferry services, talks are being held with ferry operators for more timely ferries.He said when tourists arrive in the afternoon in St. Thomas, they often have to overnight since there are no late ferries and Government is working with the ferry services to adjust their schedules to be able to better transport visitors.
“So these are all the options we are looking at to ensure at the moment we can have our visitors get here timelier, more comfortably while we continue to look at the expansion of the airport,” Premier Smith said.
Meanwhile, he also announced that a study has been commissioned by BVIAA with a company called CMI Aviation to do an aeronautical study which will determine what Government needs to do to meet all the requirements to have the Virgin Gorda Airport opened and functioning on a regular basis.
Gun Greek as tourist destination
He noted that while Gun Greek has already been opened as a port of entry, there will be a formal ceremony on May 18, 2012 and a Committee has been put together to look at the Gun Greek area as a tourist destination.
Hon. Smith said that his Government recognizes there is quite a lot of activities in North Sound and knows that once Gun Greek was developed “it can be made a destination and people in the area can benefit.”
He said meetings will also be held with persons of the community to get their input in the project as it goes forward.
Janis Braithwaite now Liaison OfficerMeanwhile, the Territory’s leader said Government always had the idea of developing the tourism product and marketing the product, and has now decided that the Tourist Board will concentrate more on marketing, which is what they should be doing, and has brought into the Premier’s Office Ms. Janice Braithwaite Edwards to be the Liaison Officer to work across ministries for the development of the tourism product.
Among the areas the former Director of the BVI Tourist Board will be working on are: chairing the Gun Greek committee and working closely with the Ministry of Communications and Works on the planned expansion of the Crafts Alive Market.
He said she will also be working on beach management and beach vending policies for all beaches in the Territory in conjunction with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour.
Braithwaite-Edwards is also tasked with developing a concept for the Brandywine Bay beach, as well as, conducting an inventory of historical sites of the Territory.
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