You can expect more cruise options in the British Virgin Islands in the coming years. The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) has signed a strategic development agreement with the B.V.I. to enhance its product and increase cruise calls in the destination.
“This new agreement shows the momentum that FCCA and destinations are having in working together to maximize cruise tourism’s benefits,” said Micky Arison, chairman of FCCA and Carnival Corporation & plc. “The British Virgin Islands has been a long-standing partner of the industry, and I am thrilled that this agreement signifies the improvement of so many lives and livelihoods.”
After previously being an FCCA presidential partner following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, along with working with FCCA following the pandemic, the British Virgin Islands has formed this agreement to further grow its economic benefits from cruise tourism, which generated $12.63 million in total cruise tourism expenditures, in addition to $4.33 million in total employee wage income, during the 2017/18 cruise year (which was impacted by the historic hurricane season), according to the Business Research & Economic Advisors report “Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies.”
Through the agreement, FCCA will guide the British Virgin Islands government on enhancing its product and increasing cruise calls, besides facilitating new experiences to offer cruise companies and collaborate with the local private sector to maximize opportunities. Additionally, the agreement will utilize FCCA’s cruise executive committees, including sub-committees focused on employment and purchasing, for a series of meetings and site visits focused on the British Virgin Islands’ objectives. The British Virgin Islands will also have open access to the FCCA executive committee, consisting of presidents and above of FCCA member lines, along with their efforts to effectuate the agreement’s objectives and the destination’s goals.
Some of the other features of the strategic partnership include a focus on converting cruise guests to stay-over visitors, promoting summer cruising, engaging travel advisors, creating consumer demand and developing a destination service needs assessment that will detail strengths, opportunities and needs.
“We are proud of our past work with the British Virgin Islands and honored that they have again put their faith in us and the cruise industry,” said Michele Paige, FCCA president. “Through this agreement, FCCA is fully committed to fulfilling individualized initiatives, which focus on assisting the private sector, improving employment, fostering cruise lines’ purchase of local goods and more that will help locals prosper from the economic impact that the industry brings.”
FCCA is a trade association that represents the mutual interests of destinations and stakeholders throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Mexico, along with member lines that operate over 90 percent of the global cruising capacity.
For more information, visit F-CCA.com.
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