St. Croix Undergoing 'Steady Tourism Development' as Airport Project Opens Up 'Opportunity Galore'

While the public-private partnership sought to develop the two major airports in the USVI are expected to spur economic development across the territory, from officials’ remarks during Wednesday’s industry forum it was obvious that much excitement and anticipation surrounded the prospects for development on St. Croix.

Willard John, Chair of the Virgin Islands Port Authority, said it plainly during his remarks at the forum - “St. Croix is the future of development in the USVI”. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. agreed. “St. Croix airport has the most potential,” he said.

Local officials see St. Croix as a key factor in the wider territorial development strategy due to the large potential for growth that exists. Not only is the Henry Rohlsen airport approximately twice as large as Central Park in New York City, according to Larry Belinsky, Managing Director of Frasca LLC, but the 400 acres across the road from the airport was “opportunity galore”, as described by VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe. Potential existed there, Dowe mused, for hotel and other tourism-related business as well as for cargo and other commercial operations.

During the press briefing that followed, Governor Bryan responded to a question from Consortium publisher Ernice Gilbert regarding the capacity of the big island to accommodate the larger numbers of visitors the revamped airport is expected to be able to process through the facility.