Travel demand for the U.S. Virgin Islands is strong and forecasts look positive, reports Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte after completing meetings at Routes Americas, a leading aviation event, on the U.S. mainland last week. Commissioner Boschulte reported that carriers were upbeat about business to the Territory. "Load factors this winter are strong," said the Commissioner, who noted that one airline reported completely full loads into the Territory over the past several weeks.The tourism chief explained that there was particularly strong interest in St. Croix, and he took the opportunity to update partners on the marketing initiatives and the island's new brand "St. Croix: a vibe like no other".
WAPA’s having one of its local contractors to temporarily assist the Department of Public Works with either the repair or replacement of faulty or non-existent highway lights along the major thoroughfares on St. Thomas that are part of the federal highway system. Work will focus on the. King Airport intersection to the bottom of Raphune Hill. Executive Director Lawrence J. Kupfer said that WAPA will make the temporary repairs and/or install needed streetlights until such time as the Public Works Department can make permanent repairs or a complete replacement of highway lights, hurricane-damaged poles, and other hardware.
Boaters have brand new cleats to tie their boats while berthed on the Waterfront in Charlotte Amalie Harbor. The Virgin Islands Port Authority Authority replaced a total of 77 rusty and broken cleats with new, weather-resistant ones with a 10-year life expectancy. The Virgin Islands Port Authority said the contractor is replacing cleats at the ferry and cargo docks in Red Hook and the Crown Bay excursion dock on St. Thomas, and the ferry and cargo docks in Cruz Bay, St. John.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Grandeur of the Seas has canceled its scheduled visit to Frederiksted, St. Croix on February 12, announced the Virgin Islands Port Authority (V.I.P.A). V.I.P.A said its marine office received the cancelation today, which cited medical reasons for the ship’s change in its itinerary. The release did not say what those medical reasons were that caused the cruise line to cancel the call. The Grandeur of the Seas is a Vision-class ship with a capacity of 2,446 passengers and 760 crew, the Port Authority said.