BLOC MAGAZINE WINTER 18-19

W hen Hurricane Irma tore through the Caribbean in Sep- tember 2017, it made a particu- larly harsh impact on the spectacu- lar shores that 30,000 of my fellow BVIslanders and I call home. But one year later, I am pleased to say that the Herculean efforts put forth by the local community, international volunteers and the BVI government have paid off. The beaches have been cleaned up, roads cleared, and vis- itors are flocking into the territory once again. As the largest sector of the economy, restoring the BVI’s tourism prod- uct was a huge priority during the immediate aftermath of the storm. There is still work to be done, but we at the BVI Tourist Board are proud to recognize the progress made over the past year. The BVI Reborn video gives a glimpse into the progress of our recovery. The charter yacht and sailing indus- try was the first to rebound, with some operators accepting guests as soon as November 2017 to jump- start the winter season. Cruise calls resumed at Tortola Pier Park the following month, bringing in thou- sands more visitors. Disney Cruise Line made its return just days ago to much fanfare, and Norwegian Cruise Line will follow in Fall 2018. We are expecting a remarkable 2018/2019 cruise season with projections of over 200 calls and 400,000 passengers at Tortola Pier Park and Road Har- bour alone. Additionally, we expect over 50 calls by the smaller boutique ships, to other islands including; Anegada, Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda, demonstrating the diversity of our destination to accommodate cruise visitors. To date, many of the BVI’s premier resorts have come back online as well. This includes: Scrub Island Resort & Spa, Cooper Island Beach Club, Guana Island Resort, Oil Nut Bay, Anegada Beach Club, and more. Visitors will enjoy enhanced offerings at several of these proper- ties, including an expanded private beach at Scrub Island, and brand- new glamping accommodations at Anegada Beach Club. In fact, Ane- gada has emerged as a must-visit is- land thanks to its unique attractions like world-class kitesurfing, amaz- ing conch shell mounds and iconic bright pink flamingos. The only coral island in the group, Anegada boasts the Caribbean’s third largest barrier reef, the Horseshoe Reef. Oil Nut Bay has significantly up- graded its facilities, and this Decem- ber, will be offering stunning new one-bedroom suites with nightly availability. A marina village with 93 slips that can accommodate yachts up to 40 meters, will also be opened in December. The resort’s helipad which facilitates air arrivals along with the new facilities, will now give guests the freedom to explore neigh- boring islands, embarking by boat or helicopter, with ease. As of August 15, there are 769 rooms on land and 2,930 berths available throughout the Territory. By win- ter season, that number will rise to over 1,000 rooms and 3,200 berths. Necker Island is scheduled to reo- pen on October 1st, with several of our luxury properties to follow in late 2019 including Bitter End Yacht Club and Rosewood Little Dix Bay. Traveling to the BVI has never been easier. We have regained full capaci- ty in terms of airlift and ferry service, with some airlines even expanding service between San Juan and Tor- tola. Over the past several months, we have hosted major events like the annual BVI Spring Regatta and the Emancipation Festival, a celebration that highlighted our culture and re- silience. This November, BVI Food Fete will return with a fantastic line- up of culinary events. As we reflect on the lessons learned from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the BVI recognizes the need to plan for the future. The government suc- cessfully restored 100% of power across all of our islands by May 2018, while continuing efforts to strength- en our infrastructure in anticipation of future storms. HURRICANE HEALING BVI's Director of Tourism, Sharon Flax-Brutus, shares up- dates on post-Hurricane Irma progress across the Territory...