Government is hailing several large-scale, multi-million dollar resort developments – most notably Christophe Harbour – as harbingers of St. Kitts’ move toward high-end tourism. It sees the move toward high-end tourism as a necessary step and a major component of the new economy after the closure of the sugar industry. However, major strides in securing expanded commercial airlift into the Federation have been marred by stalls in construction as well as pull-outs by developers such as Auberge Resorts. These setbacks make some people question the viability of high-end tourism, particularly in light of the global economic slowdown that has hobbled the once seemingly recession-proof luxury market.