New tourism group bats for spot on Tourist Board
The BVI Yachting, Hotel & Tourism Association (BVIYHTA) , which was launched in May, has called for a seat on the BVI Tourist Board, the entity responsible for marketing the BVI’s tourism product.
2023-07-12 13:18:25 - VI News Staff
The request was made by Clyde Lettsome, a business leader and member of the BVIYHTA at a stakeholder’s symposium the organisation hosted on Tuesday. He said the new organisation could help to shape the narrative about the BVI’s tourism both locally and internationally.
“We’ve created this organisation – the BVIYHTA – and we feel that it should be given its best possibility not just of survival but of influencing the narrative on behalf of the members. I think what we want to ask of you and propose at the same time is whether the BVIYHTA gets a seat on your Tourist Board? And certainly we want the Tourist Board to have a seat in this organisation because it’s either we’re working together or not,” Lettsome said.
In response, Premier Wheatley said that proposal is a good idea and can be arranged once they take the time to look at the composition of the 11-member Tourist Board to see how they can make space for a representative of the BVIYHTA.
“Right now, the legislation allows us 11 seats so I think we can revisit the amount of seats and who is actually on the seats. I would like to see this organisation on the Tourist Board because you have a lot of views that you represent so it makes perfect sense to me,” Premier Wheatley said.
“Let me add that it’s more than just influencing narrative, we want you to help influence the direction of the industry and make a real impact on policy,” Premier Wheatley added.