TORTOLA — Recent figures from the BVI Ports Authority’s (BVIPA) Operations team show an unprecedented increase in summer cruise passenger arrivals.
VI Consortium has learnt that from 2012 to 2014, cruise passenger arrivals during the summer months (May to September) averaged just over 23,000.
On the other hand, preliminary figures for 2015 show a total of 70,705 passengers.
It is estimated that by the end of September, cruise passenger arrivals will exceed 90,000.
Commenting on the passenger increase, Managing Director of the BVIPA Claude Skelton Cline said, “We are elated to report the unprecedented growth in cruise passengers, which goes to show that the recent cruise pier expansion has already begun to achieve the Government of the Virgin Islands’ mandate to increase cruise passengers and create a year round cruise tourism calendar.”
He added, “It is important to note that the arrivals are only reflective of arrivals during what is called our slow season, which gives us renewed confidence going into the 2015/ 2016 cruise season.”
The managing director also noted that the cruise pier landside development is progressing well with expected completion before year end.
The BVI Cruise Pier expansion was completed in April.
The pier is now 1,312 feet long, 60 feet wide and can accommodate two ships at 180,000 gross registered tonnage.
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