BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN his address at the recent 2017 Tourism Experience Awards Ceremony held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, Tourism Minister the Hon. Lindsay Grant made reference to the success St. Kitts has achieved as a tourist destination and revealed some of the plans to keep the island on top in this very competitive industry.
Grant told the gathering that the main reason tourists would want to return to St. Kitts is because of the world-class experiences they are provided by local stakeholders of the industry.
He also highlighted the recognition St. Kitts received from a number of top publications and websites as being among the best destinations that provide excellent tourism experience.
“So far in 2017 alone, The Wall Street Journal ranked St. Kitts as Number Nine on a list of 10 places across the world for ‘Where to Vacation in 2017’, Coastal Living ranked St. Kitts as Number 16 of ‘The World's 21 Top Luxury Beach Destinations in 2017’, and Caribbean Journal ranked St. Kitts as Number 11 of ‘25 Caribbean Destinations to Visit in 2017’. Further, St. Kitts has been named Number Eight of the ‘Top 10 Sexiest Places on the Planet’ by Reader’s Digest (Canada), one of the ‘Best Caribbean Cruise Destinations’ by Thrillist, and one of ‘Six Caribbean Islands You Need to Visit Now’ by Travelocity.”
The Minister of Tourism also stated that the island has been ranked by US News & World at Number One on a list of ‘Best Caribbean Honeymoons’, Number Two on a list of the ‘Best Beach Honeymoon Destinations in the World’, Number Five on a list of 'Best Caribbean Family Vacations', Number Seven on a list of the 'Best Islands in the World', and Number Seven on a list of the ‘Best Caribbean Vacations’.
“Most recently,” he added, “our Music Festival was included in an article appearing on Billboard magazine’s website for excellence in producing and managing a successful event that positively impacts tourism. On social media, we currently rank as the Fifth Most Influential Tourist Board in the entire Caribbean region.”
Minister Grant pointed to the Pro-Am Golf Tournament which had attracted a new record number of participants for this year, including 125 PGA club professionals. He also noted that the island’s five-year Yachting Strategic Plan is in place to continue developing infrastructure, capacity and support services for guests.
Speaking to other developments in the industry, Minister Grant announced that St. Kitts had experience more flights from the USA and that an increase is expected later this year as well as in 2018.
“Positive developments also continue with airlift from North America, our #1 source market for visitors. This year, United Airlines is operating 50 percent more flights between their Newark hub and St. Kitts, operating over a longer period from winter all the way through to summer. And, just today Delta has announced the addition of non-stop flights to St. Kitts from JFK starting December 23. It has also announced the addition of a second weekly non-stop flight for two rotations in peak holiday season on Wednesdays and for January 9 to March 27, 2018 on Tuesdays, both from its Atlanta hub. These flights significantly expand the carrier’s capacity into the destination, providing more ways for visitors to get here.”
He explained that that is a clear indication of the success of the Tourism Ministry, Tourism Authority and their stakeholders’ collective efforts, but warned that they have to keep improving on the product in order to remain competitive.
“While we have achieved much, we must always keep improving since the tourism industry is a competitive arena. To this end, the Ministry of Tourism and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority are implementing a number of programmes designed to enhance our growing and evolving tourism product.”
Among those programmes is the Heart of St. Kitts Foundation, which the Minister noted had celebrated its first anniversary earlier this year, noting that it is aimed at inspiring a legacy of stewardship for the natural environment and culture through combined support from local tourism businesses and visitors to St. Kitts.
Rails to Trails is another programme that the Heart of St. Kitts Foundation has embarked upon.
“One of the Foundation’s primary projects that is now well underway is Rails to Trails, which is dedicated to the restoration and maintenance of a 1.4 km section of the former sugar railway from Palmetto Point to Challenger’s, converting it into a hiking and biking trail. This initiative and others in the pipe line have much entrepreneurship potential for local communities.”
He said that project is in its second phase and that residents and community groups are currently working together to create a more sustainable trail by adding fruit trees and palette board benches at rest stops along the way.
Minister Grant declared that the two tourism entities continue to conduct customer service training for all nationals who ply their trade on the frontlines of the industry, including traditional and non–traditional service providers such as Retail Operators, Aloe Rub Beach Vendors, Beach Bar Operators, Water Sports Operators, Primate Petting Vendors, Craft Vendors and Hair Braiders.
He also declared that the two entities have secured the services of a number of bilingual individuals to communicate with tourists who do not speak English, and that plans are on the front burner to train representatives to communicate in the German language.
“For those visitors who do not speak English, we have secured bilingual customer service representatives to ensure our guests’ experience is not marred by a language barrier. We have also collaborated with the Honorary Counsel in Germany, who will provide us with student interns to assist with translation during cruise season and training for our tourism representatives so they are equipped to understand and use key phrases in the German language.”
Grant was also proud to announce that his Ministry continues to pilot its Tourism Education Programme in the Dr. William Connor and Sandy Point Primary Schools, as well as the Basseterre High School and the Advanced Vocational Education Center.
“This,” he said, “is just one of our youth-oriented programmes, as we understand that we must train and develop our young people who are our greatest resources and the future of our tourism industry.”
He claimed that tour efforts are bearing fruits and pointed to Dr. William Connor Primary School as an example, stating that the learning institution has established a Tourism Club and would be celebrating Careers in Tourism Week from June 26 to 29 this year.
“One of the highlights is a banquet where deserving students will receive awards and certificates for their stewardship in tourism. Our tourism officers are reporting heightened interest in tourism studies as they work alongside teachers, combining class work and field trips to raise awareness of the tourism industry and to educate our young people about the opportunities afforded by this very important industry,” he added.
The Tourism Minister emphatically declared that in today’s highly competitive global environment St. Kitts need to maintain the highest standards of excellence in tourism in order to continue to attract visitors.
“It is crucial that we do so, as tourism is the single largest contributor to our national economy and to the wealth of every citizen within it. After all, the ultimate goal of our tourism industry is to maximise opportunity, prosperity and quality of life for present and future generations of our Federation,” Grant said.
