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Wheatley: It would be interesting how UK promotes the VI!

At the press conference Bellingham had stated that the VI's tourism product was one of the best in the world. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – With the United Kingdom Government going through a financial turmoil, talk show host Douglas Wheatley said it will be interesting to see how the Minister for Overseas Territories Henry Bellingham, MP will find ways to improve the Virgin Islands (VI) tourism product.

Speaking on his radio programme “Speak Out BVI” last evening May 1, 2012, Wheatley said the UK is going through their trials and tribulations, therefore he doesn’t know how much “they will do for us with our tourism.”

The British MP, at a joint press conference between himself and Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith on April 23, 2012, had stated that as the “champion” in London for Overseas Territories (OTs), he will continue to push for the promotion and marketing of OTs tourism, particularly the Virgin Islands “because your tourism offer is quite superb. It’s one of the best in the world.”

“I guess MP Bellingham answered the question because he was asked and I guess he felt he had to say something,” Wheatley added.

Bellingham, who visited the VI for the first time, had stated that he was impressed with the beauty of the VI, and upon his return to the United Kingdom, he will discuss his ideas with the VI’s representative office in London to “actually promote the BVI as a destination to British citizens as being something that is really different, unique and hopefully more attractive to them than going say to a French country in the Caribbean or an Independent country.”

He also pledged to speak with players in the UK’s travel industry. “There is a growing appetite for tourism to exotic places and it is a very competitive and tough market out there…. and certainly if I was a loyal British citizen and I had X money to spend I would go to an Overseas Territory.”

7 Responses to “Wheatley: It would be interesting how UK promotes the VI!”

  • oh boy (02/05/2012, 09:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    the MP was just chatting balh blah blah because he was in the BVI at the time...when he goes to another OT he will say the same....
  • Foot in mouth (02/05/2012, 10:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well typical politician, putting his foot in his mouth! Ha Ha
  • Industry Expertise (02/05/2012, 10:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Wheatley sound a little nieve to say the lease. Mr. Billingham could have been inpressed, and saw it fit for the tourism industry to embark on marketing the territory, which is what any intellengent person would recomend. Further marketing the BVI in the UK is not rocket science. There are several ways it can be done. Mr. Wheatley im my oponion is abit over the edge on this.
  • Colonialism (02/05/2012, 11:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The man is only given his opinionion and makeing an observation as to the state of the world. I know the BVI is not America but do we have free speech? Wheatley is not nieve but giving his opinion based on the fact that the UK and Europe are back in recession and other real factors. Why is it everytime an MP vists so does a navy vessel? Just in case they have to pull a Turks & Caicous here as well?


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