Territory's Tourism Success in Covid Era Credited to Public-Private Partnerships, D.O.T. Says

The U.S. Virgin Islands credits its ability to survive and thrive during the worldwide Covid-19 crisis to synergistic public-private partnerships, said the V.I. Dept. of Tourism Friday.

According to the release, D.O.T. Commissioner Joseph Boschulte Wayne Biggs, CEO of the USVI Economic Development Authority, led a delegation representing the territory at the Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS), which was held last month in Hollywood, Florida.

During a panel discussion on public-private collaboration, Mr. Boschulte recognized the importance of working together with other government entities such as the Department of Health, as well as business owners and employees alike, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sectors, to ensure that protocols and policies are understood and enforceable, D.O.T. said.

“A big part of our success has been our relationship, led by our governor Albert Bryan Jr., with our private sector people,” said the commissioner. “As government, we can set protocols. However, it's not only the government's responsibility to enforce the protocols; it's the business owners, the hotel owners, the managers, the restaurant and bar managers’ job — to keep the entire economy humming.”

He believes the U.S. Virgin Islands has been able to record notable successes such as record numbers of visitor arrivals because of the leadership’s decision early in the pandemic to “manage the virus and not run from the virus” and proactive moves to protect both lives and livelihoods, in an economy that is heavily dependent on its tourism sector.

Addressing conference-goers during a presentation on investment opportunities in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mr. Biggs highlighted the USVI’s enviable market access, hotel development incentive program and COVID-19 response.