British Virgin Islands Culture
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The people of the British Virgin Islands are
much more laid-back than their neighbors of the U.S. Virgin
Islands like St. Thomas and St. John which are better known
for their influx of tourists and resorts. The leisurely lifestyle
of the people of the British Virgin Islands is accented by delicious
cooking using a variety of spices and even spicier Caribbean
beats. |
Even though it is a British settlement, the islands have adopted
the U.S. dollar as their official currency and not the pound. It
is also very common for the islanders to rely on Miami when they
need things like food, clothes and cars. In that sense, the islands
can feel Americanized, but the abundant preservation efforts by
the National Parks Trust make the islands feel under-developed and
untouched. Tourism is slowly becoming a mainstay in the British
Virgin Island’s economy but it’s still not as prevalent
as in the U.S Virgin Islands.
Natives of any of the Virgin Islands are quite superstitious. Don’t
be surprised if you hear them refer to “the jumbies.”
Many islanders believe in these supernatural beings that are good
or evil and live outside homes, but it is thought that U.S. natives
are exempt from the jumbies doings.
Crime is relatively low, with robbery being the main complaint
in Tortola, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take
normal precautions while visiting the islands.
More Information:
 www.state.gov
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