CHALLENGES FACING BVI TOURISM -
Section II
TOURISM
PERFORMANCE
Visitor Arrivals:
As mentioned earlier, large scale, tourism in the BVIs began in the mid
1960's and grew rapidly up to the end of the 1970's. The sector
however recorded less rapid growth in the 1980's due to negative factors.
In 1983 there was a rise in visitors from 148,806 to 161,625. Since
that time until 1991 the arrivals trend was positive. In 1990 the
number of visitors were 317,670, then in 1991, there was a drop of 22,48
visitors or a 7% drop. In 1992 the number of visitors continued to
fall, dropping by 5.5% or 16,257 visitors from the previous year.
Such a continuous drop was attributed to the war in the Gulf States
coupled with the economic difficulty experienced in North America, being
the major market of BVI. In 1993, visitors to the BVIs increase by
19.3% form the pervious year to a record of 333,035 visitors. In
1994 there was again negative change of 1.4%. Nevertheless, visitors
continued to bring in more money to the economy of the territory.
The Table 1.4 below shows the trend of visitor arrivals in the territory
form 1981 to 1996 and the percentage changes.
TABLE
1.4
HOLIDAY
VISITOR ARRIVALS WITH
ACTUAL
AND PERCENTAGE CHANGES, 1981 - 1996
|
YEARS
|
HOLIDAYS
VISITORS
|
ACTUAL
CHANGE
|
PERCENTAGE
CHANGE
|
|
1981
|
154,484
|
6818
|
4.6
|
| 1982
|
155,715
|
1231
|
0.8
|
| 1983
|
148,806
|
-6909
|
-4.4
|
| 1984
|
161,625
|
12819
|
8.6
|
| 1985
|
167,676
|
6051
|
3.7
|
| 1986
|
185,048
|
17372
|
10.4
|
| 1987
|
222,318
|
37270
|
20.1
|
| 1988
|
242,193
|
19875
|
8.9
|
| 1989
|
287,953
|
45760
|
18.9
|
| 1990
|
317,670
|
29717
|
10.3
|
| 1991
|
295,322
|
-22348
|
-7.0
|
|
1992
|
279,065
|
16257
|
-5.5
|
| 1993
|
333,035
|
53970
|
19.3
|
| 1994
|
328,525
|
-4510
|
-1.4
|
| 1995
|
365,339
|
36814
|
11.2
|
| 1996
|
412,032
|
46693
|
12.8
|
|
Source: DPU - Tourism Review
|
From the
above table, you will note that the growth has been so rapid if you
compare the 1981 figures and the 1996 figures it would indicated a growth
of 257,548 visitors in fifteen years. The fact that this growth has
been so rapid dictates that management structure must, as a matter of
urgency, be put in place to guide the sector in the effective and
beneficial way for the people of this territory.
Visitors by Mode of Arrivals:
The mature of the multi-island territory and the location of the islands
in relation to each other provide a safe haven for sailing. This is
what most of the visitors to these islands come to enjoy and it may
account for the fact that over 65% of all visitors come by sea versus air.
For example, in 1996, 67.3% of all the visitors came by sea, while 31.9%
came by air. In the near future after the expansion of Beef Island
Airport the number of visitors who come by air may exceed those who come
by sea.
TABLE
1.5
VISITORS
BY, TYPE OF CARRIER AND METHOD OF TRAVEL 1990 - 1996
|
|
AIRCRAFT
TOTAL
|
COMMERCIAL AIRLINES
|
SEA PLANE SHUTTLE
|
AIR CHARTERS
|
PRIVATE AIRCRAFT
|
MILITARY & OTHER CRAFT
|
|
YEARS
|
|
1990
|
51,745
|
139
|
37,053
|
24,659
|
856
|
114,452
|
|
1991
|
36,184
|
97
|
25,911
|
17,140
|
702
|
80,034
| |
| 1992
|
21,557
|
796
|
35,883
|
22,006
|
710
|
80,952
| |
| 1993
|
92,753
|
20
|
2,658
|
1,918
|
401
|
97,750
| |
| 1994
|
94,168
|
129
|
5,962
|
2,146
|
976
|
103,381
| |
| 1995
|
95,227
|
95
|
3,525
|
1,285
|
4,286
|
104,418
| |
| 1996
|
98,408
|
98
|
3,640
|
1,329
|
4,439
|
107,914
| |
|
|
FERRIES
|
CHARTER BOATS
|
CRUISE SHIP
|
PRIVATE BOATS NOT-STATED
|
SEA CRAFT TOTAL
|
TOTAL
|
|
YEARS
|
|
1990
|
49,277
|
40,589
|
95,135
|
18,217
|
203,218
|
317,670
| |
|
1991
|
52,325
|
43,099
|
94,295
|
26,068
|
215,787
|
295,821
| |
| 1992
|
41,671
|
40,007
|
87,551
|
28,884
|
198,113
|
279,065
| |
| 1993
|
45,779
|
93,696
|
86,085
|
9,723
|
235,283
|
333,033
| |
| 1994
|
45,657
|
110,471
|
64,826
|
4,190
|
225,144
|
328,525
| |
| 1995
|
58,591
|
50,487
|
122,054
|
29,789
|
260,921
|
365,339
| |
|
1996
|
60,902
|
53,107
|
159,600
|
30,509
|
304,118
|
412,032
| |
|
Source: DPU - Tourism Review
|
Seasonal Patterns:
The seasonal pattern of tourism in the territory is evident. The
winter season is regarded as the high peak period, while summer is the
slow period. The tourists form the United States give preference to
visits in the winter months, while the Europeans seem to prefer the summer
months. Therefore, the seasonal fluctuations are extreme. The
number of tourists arriving in September is only 1/3 of that in March.
During this period, there is also a general decline in income from the
sector. Because of seasonal fluctuations, marketing efforts should
be made to attract more visitors during the off-season period. This
time is when visitors from Europe like to travel outside their countries.
It is also the period when the marketing effort should be made to secure
the market in Europe. Marketing promotion should also be spread to
other parts of the world like Asia. Such a move would reduce the
seasonal efforts on income and employment is the sector an in the whole
economy of BVI. The table 1.6 shows holiday visitors by types and
months of arrival.
|
TABLE
1.6
|
|
HOLIDAY
VISITORS MONTH OF ARRIVALS 1990 - 1996
|
|
MONTH
|
1990
|
1991
|
1992
|
1993
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
|
January
|
15,115
|
14,009
|
16,447
|
19,340
|
21,936
|
22,223
|
17,663
|
|
February
|
19,120
|
16,639
|
7,488
|
23,188
|
24,694
|
24,164
|
28,602
|
|
March
|
25,830
|
16,167
|
8,293
|
25,753
|
28,272
|
24,865
|
35,804
|
|
April
|
19,126
|
19,586
|
7,438
|
25,982
|
27,009
|
26,212
|
23,948
|
|
May
|
17,979
|
11,013
|
6,790
|
17,364
|
18,632
|
17,735
|
18,944
|
|
June
|
12,497
|
11,712
|
10,777
|
17,927
|
16,572
|
18,161
|
19,090
|
|
July
|
13,816
|
16,801
|
11,752
|
21,262
|
22,391
|
19,536
|
19,295
|
|
August
|
10,981
|
14,183
|
9,268
|
16,882
|
16,345
|
14,450
|
14,563
|
|
September
|
6,156
|
5,189
|
5,448
|
10,991
|
11,848
|
6,438
|
7,427
|
|
October
|
8,141
|
5,597
|
11,759
|
14,631
|
10,993
|
10,590
|
12,635
|
|
November
|
13,307
|
7,129
|
12,193
|
19,716
|
18,386
|
14,884
|
20,473
|
|
December
|
14,545
|
9,905
|
9,291
|
24,263
|
21,602
|
20,223
|
25,239
|
|
TOTAL
|
176,613
|
147,930
|
116,944
|
237,299
|
238,680
|
219,481
|
243,683
|
|
Source: DPU - Tourism Review
|
TABLE
1.7
OVERNIGHT
HOLIDAY VISITORS BY SEASON 1990 - 1996
|
TYPE
OF SEASON
|
1990
|
1991
|
1992
|
1993
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
|
Total
|
176,613
|
147,930
|
116,944
|
237,299
|
238,680
|
219,481
|
243,683
|
|
In-Season
|
93,736
|
76,306
|
48,957
|
118,526
|
123,513
|
117,687
|
131,256
|
|
Off-Season
|
82,877
|
71,624
|
67,987
|
118,773
|
115,167
|
101,794
|
112,427
|
|
Source: DPU:
Statistical Abstract
|
Purpose of Visit
Most of the visitors who visit the British Virgin Islands come to see the
different natural attractions and relax in the tropical weather. The
Table 1.8 below shows the visitors by purpose of visit.
TABLE
1.8
VISITORS
BY PURPOSE OF VISIT 1990 - 1996
|
|
|
PLEASURE
|
BUSINESS
|
TAKE
UP RESIDENCE
|
SEEKING
WORK
|
OTHER
REASONS
|
TOTAL
|
|
1990
|
164,978
|
6,490
|
170
|
257
|
4,718
|
176,613
|
|
1991
|
137,344
|
5,403
|
142
|
214
|
3,927
|
147,030
|
|
1992
|
112,285
|
1,942
|
109
|
188
|
2,420
|
116,944
|
|
1993
|
196,473
|
2,612
|
128
|
256
|
705
|
200,174
|
|
1994
|
237,076
|
2,595
|
131
|
254
|
1,146
|
241,202 |
|
1995
|
216,046
|
1,164
|
182
|
248
|
1,841
|
219,481
|
|
1996
|
238,645
|
2,209
|
169
|
409
|
2,251
|
243,683
|
Continued>
|
The