In official discussions of the Virgin Islands plans for tourist development there has been much effort spent on getting investors to build four-star resorts.
However, those happen to be the most expensive and time consuming to get off the ground. At the same time we are seeing a decline in the basic infrastructure necessary to support even the inter-family visits that hold together our dispersed community.
Delta has pulled out of St. Croix and other airlines have reduced their level of service. This has made it harder for relatives to get back on family visits.
Camping is a neglected area of tourism with lower financial requirements that would benefit St. Croix. Airlines need to have traffic to make consideration of a destination worthwhile. There are two places that are mentioned as being available for people who wish to camp. Arawak and Cramers Park. The powers-that-be are currently trying to deprive the community of the use of Arawak for tourists as well as the people of the Virgin
Islands and Cramers Park is a public beach facility.
Despite the success of the camping sector on St. John with resorts like Cinnamon Bay and Maho Bay, which have six-month advanced reservation for high season, St. Croix is missing out on being part of the picture. A small existing hotel near a beach and sufficient acreage can boost its revenue by converting hotel rooms to changing rooms suffering only increased use of toilets and showers. Fencing and flood lights would help as well.
Airlines don't care where the rear-ends that fill the seats on their planes are going, whether it's Carambola or a campground its the same choice of tickets. People who camp still rent cars eat at restaurants and go shopping. There is very little difference in how much is spent by campers and hotel visitors, overall it's more of a lifestyle choice.
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE CAMPING ON ST. CROIX
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