TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands National Park discussion re granting luxury cruise line private access to The Baths

Long time VG visitor here. After the Travel and Leisure article which “discovered” VG the parks trust is in negotiations with a cruise line for private access from 9-12 on 9 days during the season as well as raining the entry fee to the Baths to 10$ or more.
Closing it to the public has potential ramifications of monetizing the parks through the region and restricting public access.
The Trust maintained that revenue is needed. Just returned from Bonaire where there is a national park fee for visitors entering the marine reserve waters . Why not just collect a visitors fee?
Just my thought

They already collect a visitors fee from everyone on charterboats. It would be interesting to see where all the charterboat money goes.

And they collect a $10 environmental fee from everyone who enters, except cruise ship passengers and residents. That has never been used, nor is it clear where that money is, since government accounts have not been audited in something like ten years.

What cruise line?

So far unnamed! Trust statement that it will be named after the signing.
Seems like a slippery slope towards cruise line influence 🤔

A slippery slop being greased by the government...ever the local media is starting to say we have reached saturation point..

Local people are vehemently opposing this.

Hope their voices are heard and taken into consideration but thinking it’s a foregone conclusion.

Fee to enter the baths is now $3 will go to $20 early next year. I for one, will not be going to the baths.

Just tried to listen to the ‘public’ meeting but was removed for no reason!
There were disrupters and meeting was going to continue only with the public known to the director - guess she didn’t know me
So much for public participation

The BVI Government has halted talks with the cruise line for now...

https://www.gbmediahouse.com/Articl...-GOVERNMENT-TO-HALT-PRIVATE-ACCESS-TALKS

https://www.bviplatinum.com/news/fraser-halts-exclusive-access-plan-for-the-baths

They finally got something right..public access for all not privileged access for the wealthy few..

Go have cocktails or lunch at Top o the Baths and walk through the gate and head down the "old way."

We no longer go to the Baths, and instead head to the national park if we wish to head that way. We typically prefer to spend time at Fallen Jerusalem instead.