Tuesday, December 8 – Acting Premier Honourable Dancia Penn, QC, OBE has reiterated the Territory’s commitment to the further development of the tourism sector.
Honourable Penn did so on separate occasions this past Sunday and Monday as she welcomed two cruise ships making inaugural calls to the BVI.
On Sunday, as Honourable Penn welcomed the captain and crew of the MV Serenade of the Seas of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, on behalf of Premier and Minister of Tourism, Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE, she said, “It is the beginning of a new tourist season in what has been very difficult economic times but we have remained buoyant and hopeful always and we think the call of this new ship really vindicates the confidence that we have had in the economy.”
A day later, as she again welcomed another ship, this time, Carnival Dream from Carnival Cruise Lines, the Fun Ships, Honourable Penn said the “BVI is committed to building the tourism industry and our cruise sector in particular.”
She added, “We have a great deal to offer. The British Virgin Islands are very beautiful but we must continuously improve the sector to encourage more ships to include us in their itinerary.”
As is customary, on each occasion, Honourable Penn presented plaques in commemoration of both inaugural calls to the captain of both ships and she in turn received similar tokens from Captain Michel Claveau of Serenade of the Seas and Captain Carlo Quierolo of Carnival Dream.
Both captains expressed their delight to be calling on Tortola. The MV Serenade of the Seas will continue to call on Tortola every other week but the inaugural call by Carnival Dream is the only one on its current itinerary.
The receptions hosted on board both vessels were attended by officials from the Premier’s Office, BVI Tourist Board and BVI Ports Authority. Ports agents for both cruise lines, Romasco Group were also present and they too exchanged commemorative plaques with the captains.
Tourism is one of the mainstays of the local economy and cruise tourism constitutes a significant part of that industry, to which Government has repeatedly affirmed its commitment.
British Virgin Islands News