Magazine Online    The Authority On African-American Conventions, Incentives, & Leisure Travel
Industry Briefs
USVI TOURISM LEADER REFLECTS ON 2020, INVITES PARTNERSHIP FOR YEAR AHEAD


U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte

The U.S. Virgin Islands' Commissioner of Tourism has extended a message of both gratitude and optimism to the Territory's Tourism Ambassadors and partners around the world, as he recapped the various challenges the islands faced in 2020.

Thanking members of the diaspora for their engagement and participation in promoting the destination, Commissioner Joseph Boschulte highlighted one of the Territory's most recent honors - being named Destination of the Year by Caribbean Journal, a leading digital travel news publication focusing on the region. 

In addition to recognizing the Territory's longstanding popularity, as well as an early-2020 campaign to spotlight the island of St. Croix, the Caribbean Journal team doffed its cap to the Territory's swift and agile response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the implementation of its region-leading travel portal.

Beyond the year's successes, Commissioner Boschulte acknowledged the challenges the Territory faced in 2020, while also looking ahead to the new year.

"Without a doubt, 2020 has been a turbulent year, and many of us have experienced anxiety and suffered loss. But it has also been a time when we have come together as never before to care for one another, to celebrate the values and people we cherish, to bear one another's burdens, and to find solutions to overcome our challenges," recalled the commissioner.

Commissioner Boschulte also extended an invitation to the Territory's partners and ambassadors, many of whom reside in the mainland United States, to share their thoughts and ideas on how best to build on the Territory's successes and strengthen activities or initiatives that need improvement. 

The U.S. Virgin Islands is currently in the "Safer-at-Home" phase of the Territory's pandemic response, during which businesses are open, but residents and visitors are urged to engage in activities with health and safety as a top priority, and to limit exposure to others, especially groups. 

Every traveler aged five or older who enters the U.S. Virgin Islands by air or sea, including anyone in-transit to another destination, is required to use the USVI Travel Screening Portal ( usvitravelportal.com ) and submit a COVID-19 test result prior to travel.
Destinations International will also be offering several opportunities for CEOs and executive leaders to activate the pledge, including an Equity, Diversity and InclusionLeadership Masterclass February 4 - December 9, 2021 in partnership with The Ladipo Group. The six virtual sessions designed for CEOs and executive/senior leadership will focus on a variety of   topics including Emotional Intelligence, Effective Communication, Microaggressions, Unconscious Bias and Allyship. These 90-minute sessions will aid in personal development and investment in being a changemaker and will support the creation of a diverse workforce. More information and registration can be found here.

About Destinations International:
Destinations International is the world's largest resource for official destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. Destinations International is about serving destination marketing professionals first and foremost. Together with almost 6,000 members and partners from nearly 600 destinations in approximately 13 countries, Destinations International represents a powerful forward-thinking, collaborative association; exchanging bold ideas, connecting innovative people and elevating tourism to its highest potential. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.  

Advertisement