Concerns raised over lifeguard shortage amid tourism boom

With more than three hundred cruise passengers reportedly visiting Smuggler’s Cove on Wednesday, February 18, concerns have emerged over the presence of only one lifeguard assigned to oversee the entire beach.

A BVI News team visited the location and observed that a single lifeguard was responsible for monitoring the hundreds of tourists transported there in busloads.

While the territory continues to experience a booming tourism season, concerns persist within the local community about visitor safety and the overall quality of the BVI’s tourism product.

Currently, Tortola’s beaches operate at full capacity with just two lifeguards—one stationed at Smuggler’s Cove and another at Josiah’s Bay.

During a recent sitting of the Fifth House of Assembly, Minister for Communication and Works Kye Rymer announced that the 2025 budget includes funding for additional lifeguards, with two new positions expected to be filled before the next tourist season.