Bryan told hotel association tourism growth was outpacing workforce capacity

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. told members of the Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Association on April 11, 2023, that growth in the territory’s tourism infrastructure was outpacing the available workforce needed to support projects aimed at improving the visitor experience.

Bryan spoke at the association’s annual meeting at the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas. He said tourism accounted for 75% of the territory’s gross domestic product and cited a series of tourism-related projects, including a public-private partnership for upgrades and management of both airports, improvements to the U.S. Customs process and ferry dock bathrooms on St. John, the next phase of the St. Thomas waterfront revitalization project, renovations at Vendors Plaza, work at the fort on Water Island, new public bathrooms on Main Street on St. Thomas, and development of an athletic complex in Nazareth for sports tourism.

He also said $150 million to $200 million was being considered for redevelopment at Crown Bay, including another cruise ship pier, and said plans for a deep-water pier at Havensight had been dropped.

Bryan said 700 additional hotel rooms were expected to open on St. Thomas and St. John over the following two years. He said hotel tax revenue was estimated at $36 million in 2023 and $38 million in 2024.

Bryan said the territory faced workforce and housing shortages that could complicate completion of the projects. He urged association members to work with the government on training and said businesses could contact the Office of the Governor or the Labor Department for vocational training support.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-says-booming-tourism-needs-robust-workforce-at-hotel-and-tourism-associations-annual-meeting-on-st-thomas/