‘We will never rush back to a destination until we are 100% satisfied’- Russell S. Daya
“The BVI is defiantly moving in the right direction. It’s been about three and a half months since I’ve been here. I see a lot of progress has been made on the roads, removal of the vegetation, the powerlines, and the cars that were damaged. Still some boats to go but there is good progress on the boats and it’s very encouraging.”
He continued, “I’m also encouraged in the progress that has taken place both by the government in respect to supporting the bigger infrastructure projects, the local population, the private vendors in respect to the tours in restoring their boats and their buses for the tours.”
He was at the time speaking to local media houses following a consultation meeting with Florida Caribbean Cruise Association Operations Committee on May 14, 2018, at the Moorings Conference Room.
More evaluation to determine when cruise line will return
When asked by reporters when will his cruise line return to the Virgin Islands (VI), Mr Daya mentioned that after he has seen all main tourist attractions, he will then be able to do a “fair and transparent evaluation.”
“I can’t answer the question as to when we might bring the vessel back yet. So it’s not just the roads are fixed and we come back. We have to look at the safety and security of our guest and the families that we bring to the island and to the territory. So that will take some further evaluation,” explained the Disney cruise line representative.
Meanwhile, Mr Daya pointed out that he has asked the government to provide him with weekly updates from the different areas where the tourist attractions are located and based on those updates he will be able to “accurately and timely assess progress that is being made” which will ultimately help him to decide when the Disney Fantasy cruise line will return to the territory.
“We look at safety from a 5 or 6-year-old’s eyes”
Meanwhile, Mr Daya explained that when he visited Cane Garden Bay, one of the main tourist attractions, he noticed some safety concerns in regards to infrastructures that were being rebuilt, adding that he looks at perspective through the eyes of a child.
He said, "because they could easily wander into an area right under a construction site without that being screened off or shielded or adequately protected; then there is an accident waiting to happen. So we are looking at it from a small person's eye, what could or might happen.”
He added that his guests understand that the territory was devastated and is slowly rebuilding but added that his cruise line will “never rush back to a destination until they are 100 percent satisfied."
“Our guests are very understanding of the devastation that took place here and they are very smart and so they get it. It’s not like they don’t know the damage that’s gone on down here and the recovery is slow. But we will set there their expectations when we come in and they will understand. We will never rush back to a destination until we are 100 percent satisfied that the places we would take our guests or the place they might go on their own are 100 percent safe.”
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22 Responses to “‘We will never rush back to a destination until we are 100% satisfied’- Russell S. Daya”
Did you all mean definitely?
Defiantly
Definitely and/ or defiantly, ( The BVI is moving.....OK?
Sending prayers your way.
Why?
Why didn't the government did like what we did here in the USVI where we worked with the cruise industry to determine a road path that led to Magen's and back to the cruise port, making sure that road paths was pristine on both sides ensuring the rewelcoming of cruise passengers in November?
If the cemetaries were in such a mess at the leading swimming destination, palm fronds or other such disguises should have been used to camouflage such ongoing reconstructive areas
Leadership is key especially after such catastrophic events and its obvious that sound planning is whats missing here!
The only man who talk truth is the man in the first who is on record in stating the this government tell a lot of lies !!!!!!
. They give me the " jibbies" .
There has got to be another way. With the electronic age in full swing , "silicon valley" type enterprise and a full blast nature preserve....man the young people must brainstorm and forge a new and different approach to creating income...don't like an abundance of these tourists at alll...too much bad vibes and infiltration of ill well...The Will I T debacle is a perfect example of and demonstration of the callous disregard and disrespect. The legendary animosity of the oppressors is endemic and that cannot change, For now tourist dollars yes but with an eye and planning for a way that is more conducive to maintaining our respect, self worth. Some folks are simply scary even when not clothed in a white hood.
To survive with our dignity in tact, the forced reduction of tourist would be a blessing . A different industry sans tourist would eventually evolve and with it a welcome reprieve from the voyeuristic and disrespectful and destructive nature of tourism en masse.
I am one who welcomes the reduction in tourism and tourists but realize that there are those whose livelihood is tourism dependent. My sympathy. Relocation might be a solution for some.