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Tourism sector records highest visitor arrivals ever
According to the Central Statistics Office, compared to the same period in 2023, tourist arrivals surged by a remarkable 17.2%, totalling 682,773 visitors as opposed to 582,674. This exceptional performance can be attributed to substantial increases across all categories of tourists.
Cruise ship passengers saw a notable rise of 16.2%, overnight visitors increased by 19.3%, and day trippers rose by an impressive 37.2%. In the first quarter of 2024, total tourist arrivals soared by an impressive 30.3%, reaching 497,556 compared to 381,866 in 2023.
This increase was fuelled by a 31.6% increase in cruise ship passengers, a 25.2% rise in overnight visitors, and a significant 34.8% increase in day trippers. Despite a historical dominance of cruise ship passengers in total arrivals, there has been a notable shift towards greater balance among visitor types in 2024. Overnight visitors demonstrated a resilient 13.0% increase, while day trippers continued their robust growth with a 39.4% rise. This shift underscores a more balanced distribution among day trippers, overnighters, and cruise passengers in the overall visitor composition.
'New benchmark for growth & resilience'- Premier Wheatley
According to Premier Wheatley in a Government Information Service (GIS) press release, the Virgin Islands tourism sector's outstanding performance in the first half of 2024 sets a new benchmark for growth and resilience. Premier Wheatley said, "We are delighted to see such a historic performance in our tourism sector during the first half of 2024. These figures underscore the Virgin Islands' enduring appeal, and highlight our commitment to providing exceptional experiences for visitors from around the globe."
He added, “As we continue to navigate through a dynamic global tourism landscape, these results highlight the Virgin Islands' growing appeal and ability to attract diverse segments of travellers. We look forward to building on this momentum and welcoming even more visitors to our beautiful islands.”
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13 Responses to “Tourism sector records highest visitor arrivals ever”
By the time from July 12, 2024 to November 30, 2024 price hike on needed basic goods, etc., Probably can cancel or made void the mizzery suppressive raise.
Man, you even don't realize how wicked you are.
Honestly man, I don't hate you. To hate you don't make any sense, but I passionately hate your wicked ways. Even you too should hate them.
The overnight visitor pays the Environmental fee of $10 per person. The cruise ship passenger does not. Which of these two groups these has more impact on our environment?
The overnight visitor takes taxis, rents cars, eats in restaurants, shops for groceries, hires chefs, takes day trips, buys souvenirs (not the $5 made in China type either).
The overnight visitors travel here by plane, water taxi, and ferry or water taxi. Any taxes attributed to their transportation stays here.
They pay for hotel rooms, villas, Airbnbs, and charter boats. They pay a cruising fee when on a boat, and when on land accommodations pay a Hotel Accommodation Tax of 10% of the cost of the accommodation.
When the overnight visitors leave they pay an exit fee of $20 per person.
The cruise passenger pays a one time fee of $15. That is it!
The overcrowding on the beaches and our famous Baths caused by the masses coming off the large cruise ships impacts the quality of the stay the overnight visitor is looking for, and what the Tourist Board advertises. Mass tourism is not the answer for the islands, especially the sister islands. Too many ships are coming in at one time. What happened to the cap on the numbers of ships which are allowed at one time?
We need to get back to being Nature's Little Secrets, and continue to woo the high end visitors who are willing to pay to stay here.
Time we focused on fixing some things and stop celebrating criminality and introduced Transparency instead of hiding behind the we can't tell you in the name of National Security.