The U.S. Virgin Islands government has heralded the importance of overseas-based Virgin Islanders, Caribbean nationals and the intra-regional Caribbean market to the development of its tourism product and experience.

During the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Caribbean Week in New York, held earlier this month, Kay Milliner-Kitchens, Director of Sales of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, presented the natural beauty, history and allure of their islands to Caribbean-Americans during a special CTO meeting that focused on the importance of the Caribbean Diaspora.

“We in the U.S. Virgin Islands have been blessed by the goodwill and support we have received throughout the years by our nationals and our Caribbean neighbors,” said Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty, who indicated that her Department has embarked on a strategic campaign to encourage Caribbean nationals to promote and visit the islands.

“We have numerous ‘ambassadors’ throughout the Caribbean, North America and Europe who are eager to contribute to the development of our islands. We look forward to attracting their intellectual, marketing and financial capital as we develop a movement to unite the Caribbean community at home and abroad,” she said.