Here’s one way of trying to draw more tourists: offer them spending money.
To help kick off their centennial anniversary, the US Virgin Islands tourism board is offering visitors $300 in spending credits to use for historical, cultural tours and activities on any of their three islands ― St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas.
On March 31, 2017, the islands will mark the 100th anniversary of Transfer Day, when Denmark formally ceded the islands to the US for $25 million.
At the time, the Danish West Indies served as a strategic military location in the Caribbean for the US.
To be eligible for the $300 spending credits, visitors must stay for a minimum of three nights, and travel between January 2 and December 31, 2017. Travellers have until October 1, 2017 to receive the credit, which can be used for any number of activities, including guided kayak tours through marine sanctuaries and mangrove lagoons, snorkelling, horseback riding, sport fishing and scuba diving.
Not sure which island to visit? St. Croix is billed as the cultural destination, St. John best for nature lovers and St. Thomas the liveliest and most cosmopolitan of the islands.
Readers of Condé Nast Traveller voted St. John the best island in the Caribbean/Atlantic in 2015, while Turtle Beach and Magens Bay were also voted some of the world’s most beautiful beaches by National Geographic Magazine.
Visitors who book travel to the islands in March will also receive a commemorative “Centennial” souvenir.
