Upgrading Virgin Islands’ Tourism Corridors
If islands could speak, Tortola and Beef Island are proudly saying “Welcome!” with two significant enhancements to our tourism corridors: the rebuild of the West End Ferry Terminal, and the construction of the Trellis Bay Welcome Centre.
A tourism corridor is a “route that connects different destinations with significant tourist attractions, such as historical sites, natural landscapes, or cultural events” (destinationcanada.com).
According to “Visitor flows, trajectories and corridors: Planning and designing places from the traveler’s point of view”, published in the ‘Annals of Tourism Research – Volume 82’, “corridors represent passages built from and pointing to specific objects (such as buildings or areas) and to actions (such as taking a picture, learning about a natural reserve, or buying a local handicraft)”.
West End and Trellis Bay will benefit from much needed development very soon, with the Trellis Bay Welcome Centre coming on stream in the last quarter of 2024, and the West End Ferry Terminal scheduled to be completed in 2026.
West End Ferry Terminal
What makes West End a corridor? It is an ideal connection for travelers to nearby Jost Van Dyke, or St. John and St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. Its surrounding assets are the delight of swimmers, sailors and fishermen, its proximity to historical Belmont Estate, Smuggler’s Cove and the Amerindian settlement in Long Bay are ideal for history enthusiasts, and its pristine beautiful waters are a welcoming sight for any and every resident and visitor.
Before the hurricanes of 2017 damaged the previous ferry facilities, West End was the busiest port in the Virgin Islands. Prior to 2017, the port could boast of ‘welcoming’ over 40 percent of sea, and over 30 percent of all arrivals to the Territory.
The new 42,321 square foot facility will be twice the size of the previous facility and have the capacity to process 200 passengers per hour. The newly constructed wharf will berth two 120-foot ferries and one 75-foot ferry, as well as a jetty for six private yachts with a length of up to 40 feet. Additionally, the project includes the construction of a barge ramp, and installation of new revetments along the shoreline.
The facility, designed by Inros Lackner – a German planning, engineering and project management firm – will be built from sustainable materials and will incorporate technologies to offer greater efficiency for businesses and passengers.
The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), with directives from the Government of the Virgin Islands, initiated plans to implement the new facility in 2021, and as of June 2024, the project has been fully designed, and the RDA is on the cusp of inviting bids from prequalified contractors. We look forward to welcoming a facility in West End which matches the significance of that space to our tourism product and stands as a testament to our recovery and development.
Trellis Bay Welcome Centre
What makes Trellis Bay a corridor? Trellis Bay, on Beef Island, is known for its full moon parties, culinary creations, arts and crafts, and haven for sailboats. It is also an area rich in maritime history, inspiring books and movies, including Robb White’s ‘My Virgin Island’ and Mabel Wagner’s ‘Lest I Forget’.
Trellis Bay is a hub heavily traversed by visitors and residents headed to Virgin Gorda, Guana Island, Scrub Island, Necker Island and other ‘sister islands’, as we refer to them in the VI. The Trellis Bay Welcome Centre is designed to be a safe and comfortable access point to and from sister islands.
The new facility, being built by No Limit Construction – a local contractor who has completed several projects with the RDA – will provide shelter for up to 50 passengers, restrooms, and will be ADA-compliant [Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)].
In addition to serving as an ideal ‘waiting area’ for ferry passengers and other marine travelers, the welcome centre is a direct response to a time-sensitive need. This was pointed out by the Junior Minister for Tourism Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith, who has been quoted as saying: “…the facility will be ready to serve patrons for the upcoming season as greater emphasis is being placed on event tourism.”
For updates about the West End Ferry Terminal or the Trellis Bay Welcome Centre, visit the RDA’s official website at www.bvirecovery.vg or send inquiries to info@bvirecovery.vg.
