Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change Julian Fraser has signalled that the National Parks Trust should expect a directive to conduct a comprehensive carrying capacity study at The Baths, Devil’s Bay and other heavily visited national parks.
Fraser said the study should scientifically determine how many people the sites can accommodate at any given time without damaging the environment or diminishing the experience of residents and visitors.
The study is expected to examine the environmental, physical and operational capacity of the parks, while establishing sustainable hourly and daily visitor limits.
It would also assess peak-period congestion, overcrowding and the impact of cruise tourism alongside other visitors. The findings would provide an objective basis for visitor scheduling and other management measures.
“A Carrying Capacity Study gives us an opportunity to move away from ad hoc decisions and toward a management system based on evidence,” Fraser stated this week in a press release.
“We need to know what these parks can sustainably accommodate and then manage visitation accordingly. The objective should be to maintain, and where possible improve, the experience for everyone, whether they are a resident of the Virgin Islands or a visitor coming here from overseas.”
According to Fraser, any visitor-management measures resulting from the study must protect the parks’ natural and cultural resources, preserve the visitor experience and ensure that residents and tourists can enjoy the national assets.
He said any restrictions imposed must also be consistent with the Government’s policies and applicable legislation.
The planned directive follows controversy over the National Parks Trust’s proposed arrangement with an unnamed international luxury cruise operator for reserved access to The Baths and Devil’s Bay on nine mornings during the peak tourism season.
Under the proposal, fewer than 150 cruise passengers would be granted access between 9 a.m. and noon, while residents and other visitors would be restricted from entering during that period. Normal public access would resume at midday.
The Trust said the proposal formed part of a wider carrying capacity framework intended to reduce pressure on the Greater Baths National Park and generate revenue for conservation, maintenance, additional park rangers and other operational expenses.
However, the proposal triggered strong opposition, particularly among Virgin Gorda residents, over the possible exclusion of the public from two of the Territory’s most prominent natural attractions.
Fraser previously directed the Trust not to enter into any agreement until the proposal had been fully reviewed to the Government’s satisfaction.
He subsequently met with the Trust’s Chairman and Director on Friday, August 28, to discuss the proposed restrictions and better understand the circumstances surrounding them.
Fraser commended both officials for being forthcoming during a public meeting held on August 27, including the Chairman’s decision to disclose the directive received from the Minister.
While stating that he does not intend to interfere unnecessarily with the Trust’s day-to-day operations, Fraser said the Government must intervene when its decisions conflict with established policies and legislation.
Based on his understanding of the proposal, Fraser said restricting access to The Baths and Devil’s Bay, even for limited periods, is inconsistent with the Government’s policy and legislative framework governing public access to beaches.
“These are national treasures of the British Virgin Islands, and they belong to the people of the Territory,” Fraser stated.
“Our approach to tourism must never lose sight of the fact that our beaches, even when located in and forming part of a national park, must remain accessible to our people while also providing an exceptional experience for our visitors.”
Fraser stressed that tourism and public access should not be treated as competing interests, adding that the Territory can welcome visitors while protecting the rights of residents and preserving the natural resources that support its tourism industry.
“What we cannot do is allow the pursuit of commercial opportunity to undermine the principles governing public access to our beaches that are associated with our national parks,” he said.
Fraser said the management of The Baths and Devil’s Bay must be approached with care, transparency and fairness, with any solution protecting the environment, the visitor experience and public access.
“The Government is not seeking to manage the National Parks Trust on a day-to-day basis, but where matters of public policy, public access and the application of legislation are concerned, Government must exercise its responsibility,” he stated.
Fraser said the study should scientifically determine how many people the sites can accommodate at any given time without damaging the environment or diminishing the experience of residents and visitors.
The study is expected to examine the environmental, physical and operational capacity of the parks, while establishing sustainable hourly and daily visitor limits.
It would also assess peak-period congestion, overcrowding and the impact of cruise tourism alongside other visitors. The findings would provide an objective basis for visitor scheduling and other management measures.
“A Carrying Capacity Study gives us an opportunity to move away from ad hoc decisions and toward a management system based on evidence,” Fraser stated this week in a press release.
“We need to know what these parks can sustainably accommodate and then manage visitation accordingly. The objective should be to maintain, and where possible improve, the experience for everyone, whether they are a resident of the Virgin Islands or a visitor coming here from overseas.”
According to Fraser, any visitor-management measures resulting from the study must protect the parks’ natural and cultural resources, preserve the visitor experience and ensure that residents and tourists can enjoy the national assets.
He said any restrictions imposed must also be consistent with the Government’s policies and applicable legislation.
The planned directive follows controversy over the National Parks Trust’s proposed arrangement with an unnamed international luxury cruise operator for reserved access to The Baths and Devil’s Bay on nine mornings during the peak tourism season.
Under the proposal, fewer than 150 cruise passengers would be granted access between 9 a.m. and noon, while residents and other visitors would be restricted from entering during that period. Normal public access would resume at midday.
The Trust said the proposal formed part of a wider carrying capacity framework intended to reduce pressure on the Greater Baths National Park and generate revenue for conservation, maintenance, additional park rangers and other operational expenses.
However, the proposal triggered strong opposition, particularly among Virgin Gorda residents, over the possible exclusion of the public from two of the Territory’s most prominent natural attractions.
Fraser previously directed the Trust not to enter into any agreement until the proposal had been fully reviewed to the Government’s satisfaction.
He subsequently met with the Trust’s Chairman and Director on Friday, August 28, to discuss the proposed restrictions and better understand the circumstances surrounding them.
Fraser commended both officials for being forthcoming during a public meeting held on August 27, including the Chairman’s decision to disclose the directive received from the Minister.
While stating that he does not intend to interfere unnecessarily with the Trust’s day-to-day operations, Fraser said the Government must intervene when its decisions conflict with established policies and legislation.
Based on his understanding of the proposal, Fraser said restricting access to The Baths and Devil’s Bay, even for limited periods, is inconsistent with the Government’s policy and legislative framework governing public access to beaches.
“These are national treasures of the British Virgin Islands, and they belong to the people of the Territory,” Fraser stated.
“Our approach to tourism must never lose sight of the fact that our beaches, even when located in and forming part of a national park, must remain accessible to our people while also providing an exceptional experience for our visitors.”
Fraser stressed that tourism and public access should not be treated as competing interests, adding that the Territory can welcome visitors while protecting the rights of residents and preserving the natural resources that support its tourism industry.
“What we cannot do is allow the pursuit of commercial opportunity to undermine the principles governing public access to our beaches that are associated with our national parks,” he said.
Fraser said the management of The Baths and Devil’s Bay must be approached with care, transparency and fairness, with any solution protecting the environment, the visitor experience and public access.
“The Government is not seeking to manage the National Parks Trust on a day-to-day basis, but where matters of public policy, public access and the application of legislation are concerned, Government must exercise its responsibility,” he stated.
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