White sand beaches can't lure tourists

Cindy in Encinitas California — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:11:38 GMT

I wonder if a reduction in the numbers of people coming to the islands will have a positive effect on the marine environment. Less gasoline, sunscreen and DEET in the water. Hooray for the little fishies.

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

Curious in Chicago — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:13:34 GMT

Maybe we can give a whole bunch of bailout money to Wall Street investment firms so they can plan lavish trips to the Bahamas as a reward for underperforming executives, thus saving the tourism industry.

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:23:43 GMT

sad that my second home is going throught this... st thomas is such a beautyful place. Mom lives there and ive been traveling there since i was born. Never experienced something like this.

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

Bob/ Palm Beach Gardens,Fl — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:31:22 GMT

Good!They are getting just what they ask for.After living on St.John an watching the locals over charge for everthing,they are now getting it back.The only time they went out of their, way was after Hugo an they needed money.Try living there full time an you will things from a different angle

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

Cappy — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:08:15 GMT

I find it hard to feel sorry for these "industries".. they have been jacking up prices and jacking up prices for years and years.. blaming it on everything but what it really was... GREED! Sorry.. but you'll have to suffer with the rest of us for a while. Learn from your mistakes.. "Greed is the root of all evil"... well, we're living it now...

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

GT detroit, mi — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:10:48 GMT

i believ this article although somewhat factual when it comes to hotel occupancy, doesnt address simple facts taxi ridership is down because so many more people are renting cars then paying for rude over priced taxi drivers, the governement lack the common sense to change things for the better, for instance when gasoline prices on the island reached 4.85 a gallon in the summer the ferry operators to st. john demanded a 1.10C surcharge added for additional gas fee, it has beeen now over 6 months since gas has receeded to levels i havent seen sice 2002 @ 2.49 per gallon, and still they charge this fuel surcharge, people dont like getting ripped off no more how cold it is in the north and no matter how beautiful your island is.....

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

Bill in Costa Mesa, CA — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:19:28 GMT

Although it is sad to hear of the financial impact on employees in the Virgin Islands, I agree with an early post that there will probably be a positive impact to the environment. When I was there a few years ago the locals were smashing the environment in exchange for a quick buck. There is a balance between the economy and the environment. At this point the environment needs more help than the economy. There won't be a market for many things in the Virgin Islands if they don't take care of the environment down there. Hope they find a balance between economy and environment.

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

G.W.Kadnier — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:25:34 GMT

We were married in Charlotte Amalie, and I can tell you, the islanders were ANYTHING but hospitable--sullen, rude island folk, with $$ signs in their eyes...

Such a beautiful place, with such rich history-but overcharging for at least the last 25 years. I hope this gives ALL of the Caribbean a dose of reality!

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

Gargabriar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:41:24 GMT

I've never been gouged so bad or encountered such rude and demanding locals. We were many times bullied into tipping better, overcharged and surcharged for everything. I'll never go back. The whole trip was so uncomfortable. My husband had to break up a fistfight because a couple (not connected to us) brought their own chairs to the beach and the locals freaked out and demanded this couple pay to use beach chairs. Crazy! Maybe its that kind of word of mouth making people want to go to other destinations.

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

Bob, Tampa, Florida — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:51:06 GMT

To Curious in Chicago....the US Virgin Islands are not the Bahamas. I hope any lavish retreats funded by bailout money would save tourism in the U.S. and not a foreign country!

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

Roger — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:03:11 GMT

I feel for the locals who are effected by the slow down, but in the long run this may indeed be just what the environment needed, a break from the hordes.

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

Charlie — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:28:41 GMT

Yes, by all means, lets think about the ANIMAL life and not the HUMAN life impacted.

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

J Graf, SBN, IN — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:02:39 GMT

Just got back from Nassau yesterday and it is nothing like St Thomas or St Johns. Very friendly people and decent prices. Would like to go back tomorrow. Tourism is down there but it has not effected their hospitality.

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

PC, Brooklyn NY — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:05:39 GMT

I agree. If you want to go to places to decent beaches, go to Florida or Hawaii. I went to Bahamas once, and I would never go there again.

White sand beaches can't lure tourists

Wej, St Thomas — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:58:10 GMT

I live here in the Islands, and am glad so many outsiders are fed up with the local greed and disconcern for the environment. I love this place but the quick dollar has cast an evel cloud over sunny beachs, I hope this can change things