The US Virgin Islands (USVI) is crediting smart, sensible public health policies and tourism management efforts for the admirable performance of the territory’s tourism bread-and-butter industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commissioner of Tourism, Joseph Boschulte boasted that in an environment of deep declines in regional and international tourism arrivals, the US Virgin Islands has weathered the pandemic storm well. This was achieved despite restricting leisure travel twice last year, from March through June, and then again in August and September.

As the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) reports a regional 2020 stay-over visitor decline of 65.5 per cent, down from a record 31.5 million stay-over visits to the region in 2019, the US Virgin Islands was able to welcome 415,749 air arrivals in 2020.

Performance more than commendable

While this represented a 35.1 per cent reduction year-over-year, the out-turn was more than commendable given the two periods of travel restriction and the fact that global tourism declined 73.9 per cent over the same period. Latest tourism data showed a 29.1 per cent year-over-year (2020 vs. 2019) decline in the USVI hotel occupancy rate, compared to a 52.5 per cent drop in the region.

Average daily rates (ADRs) in the USVI climbed by 43.3 per cent compared with a 2.4 percentage increase across the Caribbean. Buoyed by a major uptick in airlift to the territory, which started over the American Thanksgiving period and is being sustained over the ensuing months, Commissioner Boschulte reports that the tourism recovery has been strong with the territory experiencing an encouraging start to 2021.

This start has been anchored by robust visitor arrivals throughout the current spring break period. In spite of the positive outlook, the commissioner promised that the Department of Tourism will continue to strengthen relationships with industry partners to help position the Territory as a preferred visitor destination in the Caribbean.

Tourism marketing strategy being fine-tuned

According to Commissioner Boschulte, “while we are pleased with our performance to date, we recognize that we have our work cut out for us,” pointing out that he and his team would meet with US Virgin Islanders in the diaspora along with the department’s sales and marketing representatives during the upcoming weeks to fine-tune the territory’s marketing strategy. This in light of the changing nature of the pandemic and its impact on the economy.

The U.S. Virgin Islands recently announced that it will allow all US Virgin Islands residents ages 16 or older to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, making it the first United States jurisdiction to offer the vaccine to such a large majority of residents. Alaska followed suit shortly after, as the first US state to permit residents ages 16 or older to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

With at least 20,000 people in the territory having received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the USVI is on pace to meet Governor Bryan’s goal of having half the population, or 50,000 people vaccinated by July 1, 2021.

“We are incredibly thankful for the leadership of Governor Albert Bryan Jr.; Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach; Commissioner of Health, Justa Encarnacion and the countless Virgin Islanders – from our policymakers and the business community to grassroots organisers – for their thoughtful actions, which continue to protect precious lives as well as livelihoods,” said Commissioner Boschulte.