BVI Aquatic Experience Wins Telly
The British Virgin Islands' Virtual Reality Aquatics Experience has won a 2026 International Telly Award in the Craft – Use of 360 Video category. The recognition follows the recent opening of the Virtual Reality Interactive Guest Experience Museum at Crafts Alive Village in Road Town and highlights the Territory's growing investment in immersive tourism technology.
The British Virgin Islands has received international recognition for its pioneering use of immersive video technology after the Virtual Reality Aquatics Experience won a 2026 International Telly Award in the Craft – Use of 360 Video category. The accolade, announced in a press release by the BVI Tourist Board and Film Commission (BVITBFC) on June 29, 2026, celebrates innovative approaches to digital storytelling that engage global audiences.
The award comes shortly after the Territory opened the Virtual Reality Interactive Guest Experience Museum at Crafts Alive Village in Road Town, Tortola — a public-facing instalment of the BVI’s push into mixed-reality tourism offerings. McCoy said the win reflects the creativity and hard work of the team behind the project. "This award serves as a strong validation of our investment in innovative technologies and immersive storytelling experiences," Mr.
McCoy said, adding that the VR Aquatics Experience "offers audiences an engaging and immersive journey through the Territory’s stunning marine environment." He also extended special appreciation to Product Director Vionie Pickering for her leadership and to Creative Director Ed Limon and the production team at Winged Whale Media for their creative execution and for submitting the project to the 49th Annual Telly Awards.
For BVI residents, the recognition is more than a trophy: it signals expanding tourism product diversity that can attract new visitor segments, extend stay patterns and create opportunities for local creatives and technicians. The Crafts Alive Village museum provides a fixed location where visitors and residents alike can experience 360-degree filmed dives, interactive exhibits and mixed-reality storytelling without leaving Road Town.
BVITBFC said the award highlights the Territory’s commitment to embracing cutting-edge digital technologies to showcase its natural beauty, culture and tourism offerings to global markets. Industry observers say immersive experiences can serve both marketing and educational functions — raising awareness about marine conservation while promoting the islands as a forward-thinking destination.
As the BVI continues to develop immersive tourism, the project also offers potential spillover benefits: training and employment for media professionals, increased foot traffic for local artisans at Crafts Alive Village and fresh content for international marketing campaigns. The Telly Award provides an international platform for the BVI’s tourism innovation at a time when destinations increasingly compete on experience as well as scenery.
Local officials said they will continue investing in technology-driven initiatives that connect travellers with the Territory’s marine and cultural assets.
Primary source: VINO