BTA Welcome Superyacht Tourism Plan
Allowing superyachts into local waters could help to “stimulate significant spending in our tourism economy and create job opportunities for Bermudians,” the BTA said.
This follows after the Government announced a “superyacht tourism economic recovery plan to attract superyachts to our shores this summer,” which would see the island welcome superyachts, with those onboard the arriving vessels subject to 14-days of quarantine.
BTA Interim CEO Glenn Jones said, “Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA] is helping drive the effort to make Bermuda a superyacht chartering and cruising destination, so we welcome the government’s policy announced to allow these vessels into local waters during the pandemic under public-health guidelines.
“We know this high-net-worth sector can stimulate significant spending in our tourism economy and create job opportunities for Bermudians, and it aligns closely with the Bermuda National Tourism Plan [NTP].
“Bermuda’s well-established maritime infrastructure, geographic location, and variety of ports and scenic anchorages around the island make us a sought-after destination for yachts—especially at this time,” Mr Jones added.
“Bermuda’s reputation as a safe, clean and close destination is especially attractive now, and we look forward to welcoming superyachts and their guests in these early stages towards re-opening our island completely.”
Slideshow showing some of the superyachts that have visited us over the years:
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Minister of Tourism and Transport Zane DeSilva previously said, “The Ministry of Tourism and Transport is implementing a ‘superyacht tourism economic recovery plan’ to attract superyachts to our shores this summer.
“This plan introduces superyacht ‘Isolation Charters’ and owner trips, with specific superyacht pandemic policy guidelines during Phases 2 and 3 of Government’s reopening strategy. It also provides for a soft reopening of Bermuda’s borders for visitors until the airport commences commercial flights in Phase 4 – the New Normal.
“This season for superyacht charters was thought to be a casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in April, local port agents received inquiries from owners, captains and brokers about ‘safe harbouring’ and chartering in Bermuda while the pandemic situation unfolded in Europe, the east coast of the United States and the Caribbean”.
“The ‘superyacht tourism economic recovery plan’ demonstrates a direct response to local stakeholder recommendations who have expertise in this area. In addition, the unfolding superyacht scenario revealed a new economic recovery opportunity for Bermuda vendors while ensuring quarantine and mitigating measures remain in place before commercial flights commence.
“All vessels’ owners, guests and crew are subject to 14-days of quarantine aboard the superyacht beginning on the day of arrival in Bermuda.
“During the 14-day quarantine, all commerce will be contactless and will be delivered to the ship via its port agent, including stores, provisions and personalised shopping for guests.
“Once the 14-day quarantine period has ended or if testing was deemed necessary by the Ministry of Health, and, owners, guests and crew received negative test results, they will be permitted to come ashore and must follow all social distancing and mitigation regulations.”
“As part of this initiative, we have encouraged local port agents to collaborate with the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation to design ‘isolation shopping’ opportunities online. This initiative is specifically designed for made in Bermuda products to include art, crafts, jewelry, keepsakes and clothing to name a few. Delivery arrangements for samples and purchases will be made during the quarantine period, and beyond. We see this novel idea expanding in the future.
“In addition to the locally made products, this initiative also brings some economic recovery hope to wholesale, retail, restaurant and marine service providers during the coming weeks and hopefully months. As we charter our way through these uncertain times, we are hopeful that a few interested superyachts will come to Bermuda during the quarantine period in Phase 2 and 3, and ideally several more will follow during the summer months as this initiative gains momentum.
“The Bermuda Tourism Authority’s pre-pandemic report by Superyacht Intelligence, the ‘Potential of the Superyacht Industry for Bermuda’, suggested that the estimated weekly spend could be between $8,123.00 and $317,031.00.”
Welcome to the New World of Servitude like you have never seen it before..This is all by Design. The Digressive Rationale behind this is astounding #staywoke
So how do you define servitude ? Does it come in increments or is it just servitude when someone else with boatloads of money asks you to assist or serve them ?
Do you consider it servitude when your barber cuts your hair , or when the cashier rings up your groceries ?
It’s that ‘servitude mentality’ that is one of the main reasons why so many Bermudians got brainwashed into leaving the tourism industry and why we now have so many work permit people doing that work.
This “servitude” mentality is what has killed us. Take a look back & see who is responsible for promoting this servitude mentality. Some of them sit in the HOA today.
You beat up on the people who bring in the USD’s that pay your wages then wonder why those people don’t wan to return. How smart is that?
Regarding the yachts, you missed your chance to capitalise on that. The OBA had the foundation for it all laid out. All that had to be done was take prompt action right after the AC. Nope. Didn’t happen. Worse, the PLP & its followers insulted the very people who could have provided them with jobs.
Smart…really smart.
Correction, locals left de industry because there was a shift in wages and inflation of cost.
We lost out on Collage Week because some idiot decided to fine collage student vacationers $1000 for a joint and other petty things, remember in de 70′s and 80′s those guys in de hotel were making dollars.
Stay safe
They rarely came during the good times so this is a big dream and fantasy because there is nothing else in the bag. And don’t expect to see tourists no matter how many say they want to come. Usa has 36 million unemployed and their hotels and many many destinations and resorts will be cutting their prices to levels we cannot afford.
Hopefully the owners of these super yachts are not too insulted by the unwelcoming manner in which the PLP have treated them in the past !
I can assure them that the majority of the people of Bermuda appreciate them, and very much enjoy having them visit us ……………..
Interesting. The same plan that was floated, no pun intended, post The Americas Cup but which garnered no PLP support because everything AC related was dismissed. Rehash, add in some quarantine measures and rebrand.
This could have already been in place Zane.
The public didn’t have a problem with the super yachts UBP supporter. It was the 75 mill plus we had to pay to a bunch of billionaires to race their toy boats. I would be more concerned about the 185 mill plus Morgans Point hotel the oba/UBP slapped a guarantee for on we tax payers.
Like I asked OJ a long time ago (and he’s never responded) I’ll ask you the same thing seeing as you made the same accusation.
Please provide video evidence of anyone , OBA or otherwise , of handing these billionaires any money .
There’s a word for people like you. It’s ‘brainwashed’ .
Now PLP and their followers will think this is a great idea!
And then came Corona.
Life as you all knew it; good and bad has changed forever.
No cedar trees to build ships to escape but then again where the hell you gonna go.
Irony.