Tourism Reeling in the Money, Bills Go Unpaid

Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte delivered an optimistic report to the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance on Tuesday, highlighting the tourism industry’s “record-breaking” number of visitors to the territory.

He said that in this fiscal year, airlines have added 971 new flights, which, combined with additional hotel capacity, has contributed to a healthy growth rate of hotel bookings. He mentioned the opening of the Pink Palm and the re-opening of two properties at Frenchman’s Reef: the 392-room Westin Beach Resort & Spa and the 94-room Morningstar Buoy Haus Beach Resort.

He added that hotel tax collections surpass 2023 revenues by 24 percent, at $35,934,054 year-to-date as of May 2024. According to the department figures, this forecast tracks to surpass revenue collections in the 2022 record year of $57.8 million.