Tourism Contribution in the BVI Economy

Tourism Development Goals

• Develop and expand the number and quality of product offerings to provide a superior destination experience for visitors
• Solve the issue of the seasonality of the tourism cycle
• Adopt and promote a more sustainable approach to tourism development
• Build and sustain a close working relationship between the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board and the business trade, product partners, and media
• Increase public awareness of the importance of tourism to the British Virgin Islands economy
• Work as a proactive, effective, and efficient team of Tourism professionals investing and focusing on action that brings the most return on investment, in the most sustainable way

Importance of Tourism to the BVI Economy

• Tourism contributes significantly to the economy of the British Virgin Islands, accounting for 30.35% of the total GDP in 2013
• In 2013, tourism contributed US$277,896,000 to the GDP of US$915,601,000
• Tourism provides value to a destination in various ways, including economic, social, and cultural benefits

Economic Benefits of Tourism

• Increased and diversified economic activity
• Flow on economic benefits through a community
• Stimulus for economic development and investment

Social and Cultural Benefits of Tourism

• Enhanced quality of life
• Community development, employment, and income
• Conservation of cultural heritage
• Increased amenities and community pride

The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board

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

Vision and Mission of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board

• Vision: To establish the British Virgin Islands as the premier tourism destination in the region with sustainable use of its natural resources and unique qualities and characteristics
• Mission: To lead the Tourism sector for the British Virgin Islands with purpose, pride, and excellence; ensuring sustainability of our product and high-quality visitor experience

Goals of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board

• Increase the economic contribution to the Islands by attracting a more discerning and higher spending visitor, and increasing the number of visitors, especially repeat visitors
• Promote environmental awareness and conservation of natural and built environments, and implement sustainable practices

The Role of the Tourism Sector in Expanding Economic Opportunity

• Tourism development can affect the livelihood strategies of local households, the business climate for small enterprise development, patterns of growth of the local or national economy, and the infrastructure or natural resource base of the destination
• Tourism tends to employ a relatively high proportion of women and help them to purchase products, such as foods and crafts, produced by women in the informal sector
• Tourism can enhance women's economic positions and help overcome gender barriers
• In certain locations, the tourism sector has a key role to play in planning for and responding to natural disasters, which often have particularly serious effects on poor communities