US VIRGIN ISLANDS TO SHINE AS PREMIER DESTINATION AT THE 2024 SEATRADE CRUISE GLOBAL CONFERENCE – Magnetic Media

St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands (USVI) – April 11, 2024 –The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, led by Commissioner Joseph Boschulte, Deputy Commissioner Alani Henneman and Deputy Commissioner RoseAnne Farrington, traveled to Miami, Florida, to meet Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and support other local partner agencies for the Seatrade Cruise Global Conference 2024.

To kick off the weeklong event, the Department of Tourism sponsored the highly anticipated Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) barbecue hosted by Governor Bryan.

Honored as a consistent leader in the Caribbean tourism industry, the USVI delegation, which also included the Virgin Islands Legislature, the Virgin Islands Port Authority, West Indian Company Limited, Magens Bay Authority and the US Virgin Islands Government Employee Retirement System, showcased the area and its growing accessibility around the cruise industry to key operators and companies.

“Cruise has been and continues to be an important gateway for visitors to the territory, and Seatrade allows USVI representatives to communicate and share relevant updates needed to continue to foster positive relationships across the industry,” Commissioner Boschulte explained .

Commissioner Boschulte was featured on the Caribbean Spotlight panel, moderated by renowned industry leader and FCCA CEO Michelle Paige, who referred to the Commissioner’s nomination as Caribbean Tourism Executive of the Year 2023 by Caribbean Journal and shared how exceptional the recognition of his accolades by the publication is. Paige referenced Caribbean Journal’s spotlight paragraph: “No Caribbean destination has seen more growth over the past three years than the U.S. Virgin Islands, which launched a full-fledged tourism renaissance shortly after the pandemic hit and hasn’t looked back. And much of that growth can be directly tied to the expert stewardship of Boschulte, who has helped formulate an innovative, agile response to the challenges of the pandemic and continued to drive USVI’s performance with a data-driven, creative approach to modern tourism. .”

Commissioner Boschulte and Deputy Commissioner Farrington joined Governor Bryan to meet with leading cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Corporation & plc, among others, to discuss ongoing partnerships, expansion opportunities and industry updates.

As the global cruise industry continues to stabilize following the challenges presented during the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Thomas and St. Croix experienced 13% growth in 2023 over 2019, with West Indian Company Dock, Crown Bay Dock and E. Abramson Marine Facility welcomes more than 1,600,000 passengers from a total of 495 calls during the year. With a 58% year-over-year passenger increase between 2022 and 2023, the USVI continues to grow and is expected to see an additional 5% more cruise passenger arrivals in 2024.

Commissioner Boschulte also highlighted the remarkable success of the USVI and the Caribbean, saying: “I am proud that the appeal of the Caribbean continues to captivate travelers. Our collaborative efforts with partners like FCCA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization underscore the unity of our region, providing unforgettable experiences for visitors while highlighting the unique strengths of the U.S. Virgin Islands. With a safe, welcoming destination and a shared commitment to tourism, we embrace our role as an integral part of the Caribbean community.”