Governor Leaves Territory to Meet With Cruise Industry Partners

Government of the United States Virgin Islands

In his first scheduled meetings out of the territory, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. flew to Miami Thursday afternoon to attend two days of introductory meetings with key cruise industry partners. He will be accompanied by his Commissioner of Tourism nominee, Joseph Boschulte, according to a press release issued Thursday by the Office of the Governor.

The valued and critical industry partners he is scheduled to meet with are the chief executives of Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Disney Cruise Line and MSC (USA), all of whom represent cruise corporations with ports of call in St. Thomas and St. Croix, annually.

The governor will take the opportunity, in conjunction with his commissioner-designee, to share in detail his vision for the future of the tourism product of the U.S. Virgin Islands, in general, and his administration’s plans regarding the USVI-cruise industry partnership outlook, specifically.

“I am very excited for this early opportunity to have an audience with these critical tourism partners so that we can strategize and discuss the direction of our tourism product which, as we all know, is of the utmost importance to the USVI economy, now and in the future. Securing and revitalizing our tourism product is vital to our territory, and we cannot afford to exclude our key stakeholders from that important conversation. I am looking forward to an innovative and productive synergy with these executives throughout our administration,” Bryan said.

The governor will return to the territory on Friday, Jan. 18. Lt. Gov. Tregenza A. Roach Esq. will be acting governor during his absence.