REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS + 23

 The New York Office is at 16 West 49th Street in an attractive
ground floor location in the heavily travelled Rockefeller Center com-
plex. During the year this office handled 32,361 inquiries and dis-
tributed 75,742 units of literature. The staff maintains close personal
contacts with travel executives and supplies information and coordi-
nates promotional efforts. Similar service is provided by the Infor-
mation Center in San Juan in recognition of the growing importance
of the Puerto Rican market among residents of that Island as well as
visitors and transient 'businessmen.


Cruise Ships

 St. Thomas continued to hold its position as the most popular port
of call for Caribbean cruise ships during the fiscal year. A total of
131 cruise vessels visited Charlotte Amalie, bringing 57,639 vacation-
ers. Progress in this field is reflected in the fact that in 1951-52 only
12 ships, carrying 5,293 passengers, visited St. Thomas.
 While the total number of ships decreased from 157 for fiscal year
1961 to 131 for fiscal year 1962, the number of passengers increased
slightly from 57,470 in fiscal year 1961 to 57,639 in 1962. Due to per-
mission granted American flag vessels to deviate from their normal
runs without sacrificing regular subsidy payments, St. Thomas was
favored with visits of such ships as the United States, America,
Independence, Brazil, Argentina, and the Santa ships of the Grace
Line.

 Month Cruise ships Passengers

July 1961 -- --------------------------------------------- 6 2,221
August -...-- 8 3, 037
September--------- 1 417
October .- .- ---------------------------------------------------- 5 2,087
November .. --------- --.----------------------- 8 3,119
December ... .... ......------------------------------------------- 14 5,976
January 1962 -.----------------------------- 23 9, 670
February -..........-------------------------- 21 9, 918
March ..--------------------------------- 26 13,358
April. --- ------------------------ 11 5,499
May -. __ ------------- -------------- 4 1,060
June ----------------------- 4 1,277
 Totals-- ---------------- 131 57,639


Tourist Visitors

 A total of 291,100 visitors came to the Virgin Islands during the
year, as compared with 254,700 for fiscal year 1961 and 203,400 for
fiscal year 1960.
 Air Traffic Cruise Ships
1959-60 ------------------ 124, 400 1959-60 --------- ----- 49, 700
1960-61 --- -----------146,100 1960-61 -------------- 57,470
1961-62 ---------------- 176,750 1961-62 ------------- 57, 638