British Virgin Islands Tourism Economy

The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board

• Established in 1969 under Act Chapter 280, Ordinance 1969 as a Statutory Body to develop and promote the British Virgin Islands tourism product and market the British Virgin Islands
• First Tourist Board Office opened on Main Street in 1972 with Mr. Richard Bathan as the first staff member and Executive Secretary to the Board

Contribution of Tourism to the Economy of the BVI

• In 2013, tourism contributed US$277,896,000 GDP, which is 30.35% of the total GDP of US$915,601,000
• Tourism provides value to a destination in various ways, including:
  • Economic: increased and diversified economic activity, economic benefits, stimulus for economic development and investment
  • Social/Cultural: enhanced quality of life, community development, employment and income, conservation of cultural heritage, increased amenities, and community pride
  • Environmental: awareness of environmental significance, conservation of natural and built environments, and implementation of sustainable practices

Role of Tourism in Expanding Economic Opportunity

• Tourism development can affect livelihood strategies of local households, business climate for small enterprise development, patterns of growth of the local or national economy, and infrastructure or natural resource base of the destination
• Tourism tends to employ a relatively high proportion of women and helps them to purchase products produced by women in the informal sector, enhancing women's economic positions and overcoming gender barriers
• Tourism sector plays a key role in planning for and responding to natural disasters, which often have particularly serious effects on poor communities