by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 11:25 AM ET, Tue January 21, 2025
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) welcomed over one million travelers to the British Overseas Territory in 2024, the first time it’s made that achievement since 2016.
The pandemic wasn’t the only challenge the British Virgin Islands have faced in recent years. The BVIs, which comprise a collection of 50-some islands including Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, struggled to rebuild and recover tourism following the Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, followed by the pandemic in 2020.
The BVIs’ Central Statistics Office reported 1.092 million total visitors arriving in 2024, a 9.8 percent increase from the year prior.
All visitor categories saw year-over-year growth: 768,293 cruise ship passengers visited one or more of the British Virgin Islands, a 6.8 percent year-over-year increase; overnight visitors grew 16.7 percent from 2023, with 305,876 travelers staying overnight; and day trippers saw the highest growth, with 35.1 percent more day trippers in 2024, for a total of 17,970.
The British Virgin Islands expect 2025 to be a “marquee year,” with new developments and further growth, spurred by developments like daily nonstop flights from Miami to Tortola and the reopening of Peter Island Resort.
“These impressive results highlight the diversity of our tourism offerings and reflect our commitment to creating exceptional experiences for all types of visitors,” said Dr. Natalio Wheatly, Premier of the Virgin Islands. “It is a testament to our enduring appeal, the resilience of our tourism sector, and the hard work of everyone who contributes to making these islands a world-class destination."
"As we look to the future, we are dedicated to building on this momentum and ensuring that our growth benefits both our visitors and the people of the Virgin Islands," Wheatly continued.
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