WICO Projects Cruise Passenger Surge in FY2025, Eyes 1 Million Visitors

Following a successful cruise season in fiscal year 2024, the West Indian Company expects passenger numbers to continue rising in the coming year, bringing the company closer to its pre-pandemic cruise visitor levels. At WICO's Friday board meeting, outgoing CEO Anthony Ottley noted that the company received 283 ship calls for the fiscal year which ended on September 30. Those calls delivered 988,862 passengers to the territory, “an increase of over 163,000 passengers as compared to the same time frame last season,” Mr. Ottley told board members. Forward projections for FY2025 are for 288 ship calls, which would bump passenger numbers to over the 1 million mark. Mr. Ottley ascribed the expectation to the territory's positioning as a leading cruise destination. “Even though all the major lines continue to purchase and develop their own private islands in the region, St. Thomas continues to be a very important call on the itinerary,” he told board members. “We are in a very favorable s...