The blue skies, green hills and white beaches of the British Virgin Islands attract primarily the yachting set. The islands' strict environmental protection policies have limited tourist development, making them distinctly quieter than their Caribbean neighbors. Visitors enjoy numerous beach activities and attractions such as the Baths of Virgin Gorda.
The climate is pleasant, warm and dry, year round. The peak tourist season is therefore determined primarily by when the weather is cold and unpleasant in the U.S.
The population is almost entirely descended from African slaves. Caucasian and Asian people represent less than 10% of the total. English is the official language.
The British Virgin Islands are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The chief of state is the British monarch, represented by the governor. The head of government is the chief minister. There is a legislature, elected by direct popular vote.
The most popular form of transportation for tourists is the chartered sailboat, but cars can be rented on Tortola, and taxis and shuttle buses are also available. Fly BVI offers flights between Tortola and Virgin Gorda. There are no major carriers offering direct flights from the US but connections between San Juan, Puerto Rico or St. Thomas, USVI are plentiful. The communications infrastructure is modern and reliable, with international direct dialing available.
Vacationers have a number of hotel and accommodations options. The most can be found in Tortola but other popular locations include Anegada, Jost van Dyke and Virgin Gorda. There are a wide variety of restaurant and dining options throughout the islands with seafood dishes considered a local specialty. Tropical drinks combining rum and fruit are popular beverages at all the resorts.
The economy is among the most prosperous in the Caribbean, highly dependent on tourism. Offshore banking and corporation registration fees represent another major income source. Prices are high because food is imported and accommodations are in demand. Even camping or staying in guesthouses is expensive.
The crime rate in the British Virgin Islands is low but like much of the Caribbean, it is increasing.
For information on other countries in the region, click on the name of the country:
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
Bermuda
Cayman Islands
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Haiti
Jamaica
Martinique
Montserrat
Netherlands Antilles
Puerto Rico
Trinidad and Tobago
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The iJET® Intelligence Center
Intelligence Officers at iJET are currently monitoring local conditions in the British Virgin Islands to provide a level of information that surpasses any available from other public sources, including the U.S. State Department. Free from political constraints or concerns, our data provides vital, unfiltered information created specifically for travelers.
Travelers to the British Virgin Islandsor those considering travel to the British Virgin Islands are strongly advised to purchase an Intelligence Brief early in the travel planning process for the most timely and concise information available on the country.
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To purchase and immediately download the latest Intelligence Brief for the country -- Click Here
Those traveling to this country or any other region are also advised to sign-up for a Destination Tracker to have there travels monitored and any relevant updates immediately forwarded to them, wherever they are in the world!
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