Soaring tourism numbers, record unemployment and the nature of public/private investment in the Virgin Islands dominated Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.’s seventh annual State of the Territory Address. Overall tourism, which surpassed pre-pandemic numbers by 22%. Air arrivals by an astonishing 44% compared to 2019. “With an average visitor spend of $166 per day, the second highest in the Caribbean, the Virgin Islands has cemented its place as a top-tier destination,” Governor Bryan said.
New hotel and eco-resort accommodations will only add to record-breaking travel stats, the governor said.
“The soon-to-open Hampton Inn at West Indian Company Limited (WICO) will add 120 much-needed hotel rooms – the first new hotel construction in the territory in 45 years.”
Deep in the weeds of the address was also a kernel of news that speaks, potentially, about the next revenue driver in the Virgin Islands: Legal cannabis use and sales. Gov. Bryan said the budding Office of Cannabis Regulation is now staffed with an enforcement unit to be in place February. “Progress is being made in implementing the Virgin Islands’ Cannabis Use Act. … This dedicated team (OCR staff and its advisory board) is working tirelessly to ensure the cannabis market is both safe and thriving.”
Yellow Cedar Media aims to explore the launch and growth of the billion-dollar legal cannabis market in the Virgin Islands in the coming weeks.
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