Royal Caribbean Partners With U.S. Virgin Islands to Improve its Tourism Product

Posted on 2 October, 2021 by Spacejunkie2

The Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) and Royal Caribbean Group have partnered to revitalize the U.S. Virgin Islands’ cruise industry with a commitment from Royal Caribbean Group to develop infrastructure and attractions.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations was signed by VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe and Royal Caribbean Group’s Vice President of Destination Development Joshua Carroll during a cruise event in Miami. The memorandum is a recommitment from Royal Caribbean Group to extend its existing 10-year, pier-use agreement for preferential berthing at VIPA’s cruise facilities in Crown Bay, St. Thomas and Frederiksted, St. Croix.

The existing agreement was executed in June 2016, and by signing the memorandum, VIPA and Royal Caribbean Group agree to collaborate on an extension of that agreement for an additional number of years.

Dowe also announced that in addition to guaranteed minimum revenues to VIPA and increased cruise visits to both St. Thomas and St. Croix, Royal Caribbean Group has expressed an interest in developing enhancements to the cruise facility in Crown Bay and making “landside improvements” in the Crown Bay District and St. Croix to enhance the island’s tourism products.

Dowe stated that this development signals “an important boost for the territory’s economy and increased opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs in the tourism sector in the USVI.”

“Royal Caribbean is the leading cruise company in the industry, and it has committed to a major infusion of capital as well as guaranteed cruise visits to our islands. In this currently strained economic climate, this substantial commitment indicates Royal Caribbean Group’s dedication to the people of this territory and our economy,” he said.

Dowe added that VIPA is “pleased” to continue its working relationship with Royal Caribbean Group.

“This MOU extends what has been an exceedingly amiable, reliable, and beneficial arrangement for both parties. Our unified goal is to ensure that the U.S. Virgin Islands is a premier destination in the Caribbean,” he noted.

VIPA will align with Royal Caribbean Group to expand the Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Facility in Crown Bay to allow the berthing that includes Icon- and Quantum-class ships and the development of a third berth. The vision for the Crown Bay District will complement the port authority’s plans to revitalize the district to appeal to residents and cruise visitors.

Royal Caribbean Group has also committed to partner with VIPA and the Government of the USVI to develop and enhance the overall visitor experience in St. Croix.

“The U.S. Virgin Islands is one of our best destination partners and the opportunity to continue innovating on ways to refine the guest experience helps guide our decision to expand our already strong relationship with the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Carroll. “We thank Governor Albert Bryan Jr., the VIPA Board of Governors, Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte and Executive Director Carlton Dowe and his team for collaborating on this exciting opportunity to develop destination experiences that benefit tourists and citizens of the USVI.”

The U.S. Virgin Islands recently started receiving cruise visits to its islands following the halt of cruising in March 2020. Most of the territory’s cruise visits have been Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises vessels.

The Celebrity Edge was the first ship to call on St. Thomas on July 20, and in St. Croix, the Celebrity Equinox was the first ship to berth since the pandemic on Aug. 8.

According to a press release, VIPA has had 22,991 cruise visitors to the territory since July 2021, making it one of the most visited cruise destinations in the world.

Canada further tightens cruising restrictions

Posted on 8 April, 2020 by Spacejunkie2

Canada’s government has enacted tighter restrictions on passenger ships, prohibiting commercial vessels with a capacity for more than 12 passengers from engaging in tourism and other recreational activities through at least June 30.

Last month, Canada banned cruise ships with more than 500 passengers from making port calls.

In other measures that will remain in place through Oct. 31, Canadian cruise ships are prohibited from the mooring, navigating or transiting in the country’s Arctic waters, and any foreign passenger vessel seeking to enter Arctic waters must give Canada’s minister of transport 60 days’ notice.

The new restrictions do not apply to “essential passenger vessels” such as ferries, water taxis and medical-use vessels nor to cargo ships and fishing vessels, said Transport Canada.

“These new measures will help reduce the spread of Covid-19 while continuing to support the continued movement of goods through the supply chain and ensuring Canadians can access their homes, jobs and essential services in a safe manner,” said transport minister Marc Garneau.

Coronavirus outbreak ‘biggest tourism challenge since 1991 Gulf War’

Posted on 3 March, 2020 by Spacejunkie2

Image result for coronavirus map

The coronavirus crisis means tourism into Europe faces its biggest challenge since the 1991 Gulf War, a trade association has warned.

The threat posed by the virus and the “inherently irrational” fear generated by the threat has been highlighted as the two main problems by the European Tourism Association (ETOA).

Chief executive Tom Jenkins said: “The new coronavirus outbreak is posing extraordinary difficulties for the European Inbound travel industry.

“Inbound European tourism is facing its toughest challenge since the 1991 Gulf War.

“There are two principal problems: the threat posed by the virus, and the fear generated by this threat.

“The first is comprehendible: strains of ‘flu are regular occurrences, though not with this level of celebrity status. The news from China that the epidemic is plateauing is heartening, as are the statistics on the severity of its impact on individuals.

“The second is the major problem as it is inherently irrational. Local governments spray antiseptic over buildings. Facemasks are used as a prophylactic against disease rather than a block to spreading it.

“You cannot reason with such irrationality. All you can do is file it alongside the cholera bonfires of the nineteenth century, rubbing yourself with a dead pigeon to cure the plague or striking an offending body part with a bible to cure syphilis.”

He added: “At best this is harmlessly weird behaviour, but it becomes genuinely alarming when confidence is eroded.

“A balance has to be struck between containing what is becoming a pandemic and the damage such containment measures cause.

“The danger lies when governments act because they feel they need to pander to fear. This fans the problem that it ostensibly seeks to extinguish, as they struggle to control what they cannot influence.

“Public panic is a natural reaction to authorities addressing what they assert is a crisis with floundering impotence. What is served by a country stopping outbound trips, but allowing inbound visitors?”

ETOA expects coronavirus will continue to spread within the next three weeks, and then gradually “fizzle out” over the following six weeks.

“Influenza outbreaks are seasonal and dissipate with the spring. It is likely that the pandemic of fear will run for the same period,” Jenkins said.

“The third, which is the wider economic impact is harder to establish, but we have to assume that the impact of a shut down in the Chinese manufacturing sector, combined with a crisis of confidence in the service sector, will depress demand.

“How far this occurs is contingent on how governments handle the crisis. If the coronavirus scare triggers a recession, then the figures projected will have to be downgraded.

“It ought to be remembered that influenza outbreaks are seasonal: they tend to dissipate with the spring in the northern hemisphere. But it is likely that the pandemic of fear will run for the same period.”

ETOA operators will continue to run tours, unless “explicitly ordered otherwise,” Jenkins stressed.

“People from a non-affected area visiting another non-affected area pose no threat.

“As an association, we are running all scheduled events and attending all forthcoming events.

“Tourism is a vital component in the economy and a bell-weather for confidence in the service sector. Where it can continue, it must.

“We have every intention of running our China European Marketplace (CEM) in Shanghai on May 12 – this is where European suppliers meet Chinese buyers.

“China is a vital and growing market who now needs – it deserves – cultivation and support. The recovery will come, and we need to lay the groundwork now.”