Visitors to the Virgin Islands are being advised that effective September 1, an environmental and tourism levy of $10.00 will be collected on arrival at the ports of entry.

The Environmental Protection and Tourism Improvement Fund Act, 2017 which was passed on June 9, and subsequently gazetted on June 12, states that all visitors arriving to the Territory via air or sea are required to pay the levy.

The legislation makes provision for the following persons to be exempted:

1. residents and belongers;
2. non-residents two years or under;
3. officers of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court;
4. guests of the Government;
5. official representatives of the Government of any country/Territory;
6. persons accorded diplomatic privileges in accordance with the Diplomatic Privileges Ordinance; and
7. persons exempted by the Minister by Order published in the Gazette.

Other exemptions include visitors arriving in the Virgin Islands on a second or subsequent occasion in the course of the same visit; persons in transit who on arrival do not leave the airport or dock; and crew of vessels.

All visitors must have the necessary documents available to help determine their status.

The monies collected will be used to facilitate environmental protection and improvement, climate change, and the maintenance and development of tourist sites and other tourism related activities.