Don’t be shocked if you spot some of the world’s wealthiest individuals enjoying the territory’s white, sandy beaches, sun-bathing until sundown with seemingly no worries. That’s because Resonance Consultancy (via Bloomberg), a firm that monitors consumer trends, conducts research, and creates development strategies, has rated the U.S. Virgin Islands as the second most popular Caribbean destination for rich Americans in its top 16 list.
The consultancy firm collected data by surveying 1,664 travelers, with the top 1 percent defined as those with annual income above $400,000 or a net worth above $8 million. The 5 percent were classified as earning at least $200,000 per year or having $2 million or more, according to the Bloomberg article.
The main reason the rich choose the territory is because it’s perceived as safe: “At a certain wealth level, picnicking on a public beach isn’t really a possibility, says Kimberly Wilson-Wetty, co-president/owner of Valerie Wilson Travel, a New York-based agency specializing in high-net-worth clientele, “unless it’s organized with the hotel and there’s a butler waiting. In an uncertain world, you know what to expect.”
The territory’s popularity, aside from being U.S. territory, has also been bolstered by the likes of Vice President Joe Biden and Martha Stewart, the former being a frequent visitor.
The Bahamas topped the list because it has 700 islands to choose from, offering a variety of experiences, according to the article. It says mainstays such as Johnny Depp, Nicholas Cage, Shakira, Roger Waters, and Eddie Murphy have all either played bonefishing in the Bahamas, or have bought “villa villages” there.
After Europe, the Caribbean is the second-most popular getaway for the wealthiest 1 percent and 5 percent of travelers, according to a Resonance Consultancy report, with 47 percent considering a vacation there in the next one to two years.
See the full list here.
Tags: bloomberg, rich, us virgin islands
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