Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said his Government will continue to work diligently to increase calls as the Viking Sun makes its first call to the Territory. Photo: Facebook/GIS

Premier Andrew A. Fahie presents a plaque on behalf of the Government and people of the Virgin Islands to the captain of the Viking Sun, Atle Knutsen. Photo: Facebook/GIS

During a small ceremony at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park, Premier Fahie presented a plaque on behalf of the Government and people of the Virgin Islands to the captain of the Viking Sun, Atle Knutsen, in commemoration of the ship’s first visit to the territory.

MV Viking Sun is a cruise ship operated by Viking Ocean Cruises. It has a passenger capacity of 930 and a crew of 480.

Its port of registry is Bergen, Norway.

According to the Government Information Service (GIS), Premier Fahie said, "his Government will continue to work diligently to increase calls to the territory via various cruise brands." 

This new call comes after the Premier at the July 31, 2019, Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA), said that his government has re-negotiated a number of increased cruise calls to the territory.

He said the developments came as a result of tireless efforts by his administration to address the projected shortfall in tourist passengers for the new season.

Solid Commitments 

“After 4 months of intense lobbying and dialogue with our international cruise partners, your new government was able to obtain solid commitments from at least two cruise lines for increased calls to the territory for the upcoming 2019/2020 cruise season,” Hon Fahie had told the HoA.

"I want to tell you that our government and domestic stakeholders such as the Tortola Pier Park and the BVI Ports Authority are burning the midnight oil to rescue our cruise industry and to generate the opportunities that our service providers such as the taxi operators and the restaurants look forward to," he said.