For those who have an interest, this is the very short form of the Tourist Board presentation kindly passed around by the
BVICCHA from the presentation that was held Wednesday evening at the college.
Good to see that the cruise ship dock is not being extended. And it would be wonderful to have published taxi rates!!!
These are totally taken from the notes, except for leaving out a couple tidbits that I thought I would not broadcast!
For the benefit of those of you who could not attend the 2009 Tourism Industry Action Plan Meeting on February 25, 2009, and have asked what was presented, at the risk of not having captured everything, I will try to highlight some of the points below:
Tourist Board. Announcement of new appointees to the Tourist Board: Ajit George of Nail Bay, Michael Rowe of Sail Caribbean Divers, and Alan Rhymer of Round Hill Villa.
Budget. Premier promised a budget increase. The Tourist Board Act will also be revised.
Goals
1) Promote heritage tourism and begin an "adoption of sites" campaign.
2) Assist TAP with marketing, revise the standards program, provide office space for the organization, etc.
3) Promote tourism in the schools.
Cruise Ships. Lead the cruise ship industry, as opposed to taking a back seat to agents; convert cruise ship visitors to long-term overnight visitors
Taxi Drivers. Ameliorate inconsistency in fares; publish fares; develop a pocket handbook for taxi drivers; establish a dispatcher system that is similar to San Juan's.
Ports. Improve the quality of service at sea ports and airports; entertain visitors with steel pan music, and treat them to a rum punch
Problem Solving. Establish a Visitor Intervention Service to assist visitors having difficulties
Visitor Satisfaction Survey. Administer an electronic exit survey at ports of departure with a small hand-held touch screen device that will gather information in real time including demographic information, contact information, monies spent, what they did, etc. etc.
Fiscal Responsibility. Exercise greater fiscal responsibility
Data Gathering. Gathering visitor information from immigration cards to make timely decisions
Contact. You can communicate with the Board at bvipatriots@bvitourism.com
IFC. Conduct joint marketing with the International Financial Center
Cruise Ship Pier. Will be repaired, not extended.
Ferry Terminals. Will be significantly upgraded
Gun Creek. Establish a visitor center at Gun Creek
Niche Marketing. Promote weddings and honeymoons, as well as faith-based tourism
New York. the first Open House in New York is forthcoming
Canada. In the Canadian market, boat shows and other shows are utilized to market the Territory
Business Development
1) Workshop Training (beginning with Customs,Immigration, and Ports); cross-training; internships at different Marriott locations in the U.S.; "know your product" training; on-site training; series of standards workshops for the various sectors.
2) Measurements. Mystery shopper; exit survey; comment boxes; monthly inspections.
Product Development
1) Appointed a taxi liaison
2) Appointed a Roaming Office for Road Town on heavy cruise ship days
3) Working with the Ministry of Natural Resources to divert some of the cruise ship traffic from Cane Garden Bay to Brandywine Bay
4) Going Green. Establish a Carbon Footprint Reduction Program; Green Globe International Certification; Blue Flag Marinas and Boats; Clean up and beautification program; and recycling program.
5) Establish a comprehensive tourism education program to include school presentations; Day as a Tourist program; Tourism work experience; and competitions.
Online Marketing
1) Utilize various online social networks
2) Upgrade the content of the website
3) Make branding consistent across geographic regions
4) Develop an interactive destination map to help visitors get here
Please keep in mind that the aforementioned items are just highlights that I recorded in my notes, and are not intended to represent the entire presentation. I trust that you will find it useful. You will no doubt agree that the Tourist Board has a very impressive agenda.
In addition, the same BVICCHA sent around this info the other day on an increase of flights into Beef Island in May...
GOOD NEWS!!
As many of you know, both meetings with BVICCHA members at Rosewood Little Dix Bay and Treasure Isle, respectively, just over a week ago echoed a common and urgent refrain: WE NEED MORE AIRLIFT! Well, this is the moment you've been waiting for..... The Honorable Premier has announced that, with effect from May 1, 2009, we will have:
SIX DAILY AMERICAN EAGLE FLIGHTS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
INCLUDING AN EARLY FLIGHT FROM BEEF ISLAND AT 7:20 A.M., AND A LATE NIGHT FLIGHT FROM SAN JUAN TO BEEF ISLAND AT 9:25 P.M.
The full details of the Honorable Premier's announcement are attached. I know that you join me in applauding the persistent and diplomatic efforts of the Honorable Premier along with his Airlift Task Force on this important achievement.