We could not let this opportunity go by without highlighting the fact that this project, one of many which we have either concluded or have in the pipeline to improve statistics in general and tourism in particular. Coupled with our present initiatives in statistics and development planning, this project which we are completing today and tomorrow will provide Development Planning Unit staff with the skills necessary to undertake this exercise annually. We see this project as part of government s commitment to openness, transparency and accountability. It represents part of the Development Planning Unit s effort to provide decision support information to our business community and tourism sectors operators. We fully recognize the importance of tourism as generator of income and a provider of employment.
Tourism generates more economic activity that any other sector and it is our most dynamic sector.
There are more linkages between tourism and the other sectors than between any other sector and the rest of the economy. This assessment of the economic impact of tourism will provide all or most of the management information required for the development of policies, strategies and programmes. This study comes at a defining time in our long-range thinking and planning for tourism as one of the leading sector in our overall development strategy. It is expected that the BVI Tourist Board, the Chief Minister s Office and all relevant planning agencies will use this data to base their executive, development and operational decisions. Well, I am pleased to tell you that national accounts, balance of payments, household income and expenditure survey data, tourism statistics, trade statistics and government finance statistics all prepared by the staff of the Development Planning Unit, was part of our contribution.