Late Ferry From St. Thomas To The BVI Begins On a Trial Basis

~~Adz:Right~~Roadtown, Tortola; Monday, December 22 – Premier and Minister for Tourism Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE has confirmed the start of a late ferry from Red Hook, St. Thomas as Government continues to explore options for increasing visitor arrivals in the Territory.

Honourable O’Neal told the Department of Information and Public Relations that Road Town Fast Ferry has begun offering the late ferry service and is expected to continue to do so for the duration of the high tourism season.

As of now, the service is offered Thursdays through Sundays at 9:00 p.m. with the actual time of departure from Red Hook dependent on the arrival time of last flights out of the United States mainland.

Honourable O’Neal welcomed the new service saying it will help bring more tourists to the BVI.  “With more continental airlines going to St. Thomas from different parts of the United States, it means that people wanting to come to the British Virgin Islands can travel to St. Thomas and it will be to our benefit to get them over here the same day they start their journey so they could avoid doing a night in St. Thomas,” Honourable O’Neal said.

He is optimistic too that “local people will also use the ferry boat because they could go down and stay longer to do their shopping or to visit with family and friends.”

According to the Premier and Minister for Tourism, the late ferry is only part of the solution and he gave assurances that Government continues to work diligently to improve transportation capacity into the Territory.

“In fact Cape Air has put on more flights between Tortola and San Juan and we will do our utmost to make arrangements with the carriers to facilitate the movement of people into and out of the Territory,” Honourable O’Neal said as he emphasised the importance of adequate transportation given the Territory’s dependence on tourism.

Speaking against the background of the layoffs that have already occurred in the hotel industry, the Premier added that it is essential that “we keep the BVI economy going and the people in the hotel industry fully employed.”

The 9:00 p.m. service from Red Hook to Road Town by Road Town Fast Ferry is the only one approved by Government. Any other trips contemplated must first be approved by the BVI Ports Authority, Her Majesty’s Customs and the Department of Immigration.