USVI Aims to Grow Charter Industry Through Tax Cuts and Infrastructure Upgrades

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. met this week with leadership from the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Yacht Association, including Executive Director Oriel Blake and newly appointed Operations Director Kenan Cummings, to outline a comprehensive plan for strengthening and growing the U.S. Virgin Islands’ marine tourism sector.

Central to the conversation was the Marine Charter Business Revitalization Act, a legislative proposal that would deliver a decade of targeted tax relief for charter and day-yacht operators. The plan calls for reducing gross receipts taxes to 2.5%, cutting income tax obligations by half, and providing fuel concessions, all designed not only to support existing marine businesses but also to attract new operators and those seeking to relocate to the Territory.

Alongside financial incentives, Bryan emphasized plans to enhance infrastructure critical to the industry’s success, including expanding access to mooring fields, developing sail-up and swim-up beaches, and expanding waterfront dining and recreational amenities, according to a press statement. A portion of the Department of Tourism’s budget, he said, will be specifically dedicated to marketing the Territory’s marine tourism sector — not just charter yachts, but also scuba diving, sportfishing, and other ocean-based experiences.

Bryan also reaffirmed his administration’s focus on workforce development, pointing to the expansion of mooring projects and marine vocational training programs as key steps toward ensuring Virgin Islanders are equipped to participate fully in the growing blue economy.