US Virgin Islands paying people to visit them this year

Promotion celebrates the centennial of Denmark selling the islands to the United States

The US Virgin Islands are paying tourists to visit its beautiful beaches this year in celebration of its 100th anniversary of being part of the United States.



All you need to do is book the trip through the island’s tourism website before October 1 and stay at a participating hotel on one of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John and Saint Thomas. You will be given $300 to spend on a range of tours and activities, including kayaking and diving, CNBC reported.



December, January and February tend to be peak seasons for tourists and flights are offered from the east coast. Tourists visiting the islands on March 31 will also receive a souvenir in honour of “transfer day,” which celebrates the centennial of Denmark selling the islands to the US.

The Caribbean islands are located to the south east of Florida, have a population of just over 100,000 and are classified as a “Non-Self-Governing Territory” by the United Nations. It should be noted, however, that the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel notice for the area to anyone who is pregnant or expecting to become pregnant due to the Zika virus. 

This article originally appeared on Independent.