TRAVEL GUIDE: BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
NATURE’S LITTLE SECRETS WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS TRAVEL GUIDE, A PARTNERSHIPBETWEEN THE BVI TOURIST BOARD AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE. The BVI Tourist Board is a statutory organization that aims to foster, develop, and promote sustainable tourism across the British Virgin Islands. Our volcanic archipelago is formed by 60 unique, unspoiled islands, and we market the region’s unique tourism product while ensuring its sustainability. 2019 was a monumental year for us as we celebrated 50 years of the BVI Tourist Board. We have offices in both North America and London, and also work with agencies in Italy, France, Germany, Latin America, and Puerto Rico to market our region to potential guests. The British Virgin Islands is known as “nature’s little secrets”, and we are responsible for marketing and public relations as well as keeping the region pristine. Some of the key projects we have been involved with recently focus on making properties greener. We are also working on environmental protection and clean-up campaigns throughout the islands. 54 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
We work closely with several agencies and service groups — including the Association of Reef Keepers — and want to keep tourism as sustainable as possible. Recently, we worked on an exciting replanting program called Seeds of Love, for which we planted close to six thousand trees in the aftermath of 2017’s storms. This saw the collaboration of world-wide agencies and experts, as well as Virgin Islands bars, hotels, marinas, and even past guests. Recovering after the storm, of course, has caused us to look at things differently.
their own attractions, and expanding to the next level.
We are a leader in luxury in the Caribbean. When we say luxury, we don’t necessarily mean a price point, but rather the quality of experience offered here. After 50 years of operations, the BVI Tourist Board has a great deal of customer service experience. We share that with our community through educational workshops for tourism stakeholders and local businesses, all of whom benefit from the growth of the industry. We also support local businesses in developing
For us, the bright future of BVI tourism includes a greater role in the products and continued training of other residents. And, of course, we need to maintain a pristine environment, not just for the guests, but for the generations to come. We are a small community of 30,000 people with 60 islands, but we make what we do very positive. The main focus is sustainability; and a sustainable today means a sustainable tomorrow.
Tourism has helped our recovery by facilitating community growth and prosperity. Tourism accounts for one-in-three jobs in the territory, and it has helped BVI residents to attain a higher standard of living. Tourism also feeds into other industries, including construction, fishing, and agriculture. Along with financial services, tourism is one of the twin pillars of the British Virgin Islands’ economy.
