Report: Airlift Among Reasons For Declining Numbers In Marriage Tourism
BVI Platinum News
Updated: July 08, 2012 10:54 am AST
Published: July 07, 2012 10:42 am AST
Photo Credit: definitivecaribbean.com/bviweddings
Last year the Territory recorded a decline in the number of persons visiting the Territory for the purpose of marriage and airlift is among the two reasons for the low numbers.

The Civil Registry and Passport Office in their annual report of 2011 stated that due to the economic downturn and airlift issues, marriages in the Virgin Islands decreased in 2011.

It stated that marriages performed by the Registrar General, Deputy Registrar, Marriage and Civil Officers totaled 247, which represented a decrease by 52 when compared in 2010.

According to the Registry, with the new technology (CRIS), getting married in the Territory would become much easier and quicker for persons living abroad. With this, a person can prepare his/her marriage license application online and upon arrival in the Territory, pay for the license.

Further, the report mentioned the residency requirements which will be reduced from three days to one day.

"We are hopeful that with these changes and with proper marketing in collaboration with the BVI Tourist Board, the Virgin Islands would become the honeymoon and wedding destination of the Caribbean," the report stated.

On May 10, Legislators passed amendments to the Marriage Act as Government expressed the need for the Territory to enhance its competitiveness as a wedding and honeymoon destination. The amendments tabled by Premier Hon. Dr. Orlando Smith are to reduce residency requirements for a special marriage license from three days to one.

The previous rule stated that a couple was required to be in the BVI for three business days before they could be married.

During the debate, Members of the House supported the Bill and Minister for Education and Culture, Hon. Myron Walwyn said the wedding industry in the United States is booming and like other Caribbean countries, the BVI must position itself to benefit from the industry.

Members echoed the same view that the objective of the Bill can only be realized if it is properly marketed.
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Copyright 2011 by Virgin Islands Platinum News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
  • Readers' Opinion
Agree | Report Abuse
What a simplistic study. It is so easy to blame everything on the economic decline and airlift, specially if you are trying to make a case for a larger very expensive airport that BVI cannot afford. No weight is given to how expensive the BVI has become. I believe that the BVI is in the top... more
July 09 at 12:28pm  |  Like ▪ 4 People like this.   Dislike
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Lily Ann | Report Abuse
All yall airing your heads, but if stt airport closed down for a year for so called renovations, plus with aa stop flying from sju to eis, what are we gonna do???? When you want to go away for vacation, what will be your next step? You cant go right????? Well same for our visitors, when there is... more
July 09 at 8:05am  |  Like ▪ 1 Person like this.   Dislike ▪ 4 People dislike this.
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Really | Report Abuse
"Last year the Territory recorded a decline in the number of persons visiting the Territory for the purpose of marriage and airlift is among the two reasons for the low numbers."
What a clout in the face to the people of the BVI. Really, does this government expect us/the general population is so... more
July 08 at 8:54pm  |  Like ▪ 6 People like this.   Dislike
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THE AUDITOR | Report Abuse
I do not believe that we can be so naive as to believe that by extending the run way to seventy five hundred feet, air lift into the Territory would be improved. BUNCOM!! One or two 737 aircraft flights a week into the Territory would do more damage than what good. What is needed is conveniency... more
July 08 at 7:10pm  |  Like ▪ 9 People like this.   Dislike
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Optimistic | Report Abuse
A decline of 52 weddings over a 2010 total of 299 (247+52) is about a 16% decline. The percentage number may look high, but a decline of 52 people is on average one wedding a week less over a year. Moreover, 247 weddings per year (about 5 a week) is paltry when compared with the 10,000... more
July 08 at 8:40am  |  Like ▪ 8 People like this.   Dislike
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Dulcina | Report Abuse
Try getting to St Barths. now that is a convoluted hike. They, however do not appear to have a problem getting folks to visit and to spend. And the bulk of their visitors are high end, seriously high end.
July 08 at 11:09am  |  Like ▪ 7 People like this.   Dislike
to dulcina | Report Abuse
that's right. travel is not a problem when there is a reward at the other end. Even within the US, most flights along the eastern seaboard to the caribbean have at least 1-2 plane changes before even getting to the destination. Peopleare used to plane changes. extending the runway is not... more
July 08 at 2:04pm  |  Like ▪ 8 People like this.   Dislike
There is zero proof presented that airlifts had anything to do with the drop in marriages. Could it be that perhaps the reek of sewage had anything to do with it? Splashing through the puddles from broken water mains on crumbling roads while being forced to listen to a cab driver rant against... more
July 08 at 7:51am  |  Like ▪ 32 People like this.   Dislike ▪ 2 People dislike this.
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BVI lawyer | Report Abuse
Why do we fixate on marriage tourism, when that brings in such a tiny sum of money annually? Our entire financial services industry is at risk due to a huge number of external threats - we are losing 10% of our investment funds every year - but no one in Government or the media even seems to care?
July 07 at 4:33pm  |  Like ▪ 6 People like this.   Dislike ▪ 1 Person dislike this.
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BVI needs to get rid of some if not all the red tape ... this country is just not business friendly. And now in tough economic times when people think perhaps three times before coming here for anything including destination weddings --we just need take this customer service thing a bit more... more
July 07 at 2:30pm  |  Like ▪ 17 People like this.   Dislike ▪ 1 Person dislike this.
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So true | Report Abuse
The Immigration and Custom Officers need to be trained. Some of them have frightening looks on their facee - Bad impression at first sight. St. Lucia record over 10,000 marriages a year because of the different mentality at the airports and government offices. SOME BVIslanders are not friendly.... more
July 07 at 4:19pm  |  Like ▪ 25 People like this.   Dislike ▪ 3 People dislike this.
ooooo | Report Abuse
anything to justify that airport project
July 07 at 11:29am  |  Like ▪ 23 People like this.   Dislike ▪ 4 People dislike this.
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Yacht | Report Abuse
It would also help if the wedding officers performed weddings after 5, as sunset is not until at least 7 in summer.
July 07 at 10:51am using an iPad  |  Like ▪ 19 People like this.   Dislike ▪ 1 Person dislike this.
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Yacht | Report Abuse
How can someone possibly dislike the suggestion of having a marriage officer who does them at sunset like tourists want?
July 07 at 4:41pm using an iPad  |  Like ▪ 9 People like this.   Dislike
Stop already | Report Abuse
The attitude at that passport office sucks big time and the smiling faces that don't exist is no help. They just don't get it but when their family and friends don't have work because of their actions they will get it and understand it loud and clear.

As a bvi lander I had hell with these... more
July 07 at 6:09pm  |  Like ▪ 13 People like this.   Dislike ▪ 3 People dislike this.
Costumer service 1st | Report Abuse
@stop already - I agree with you. I stopped by the passport office at the end of May. The two young men at the window were very polite and helpful to the extent they could help. My direct experience with these two was very positive although I didn't get what I needed, a wasted trip to the... more
July 07 at 11:00pm using an iPad  |  Like ▪ 11 People like this.   Dislike
Please note that the comments posted are the views and opinion of the commentor and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of the management and staff of Virgin Islands Platinum News and its parent company Platinum Investors Limited.
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