BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH the closure of the sugar industry, the Federation’s economy is now heavily dependent on tourism and, to a lesser degree, foreign investments. And a number of government institutions were tasked with the responsibility to regularly attract a very significant amount of tourists and investors to sustain the economy. But the big question is: “How is this being done?”
In seeking answers to the question, SKNVibes Business spoke with Ambassador Rosalyn Hazelle, who informed that three entities are charged with that responsibility.
The Ambassador, who is also the CEO of the St. Kitts Promotion and Investment Agency (SKIPA), said that SKIPA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Authority, is responsible for having the Federation’s Brand marketed internationally.
“We are branded as Invest St. Kitts. So the idea is to brand St. Kitts as a place to visit, a place to live and a place to invest. And so we work hand-in-hand with the Tourism Authority.
‘We use websites. We have a website in China and that is in Mandarin as well, so persons with different languages can go on it.”
She explained that the agency is not limited to only promoting the Federation as a tourist destination, but also as an ideal area for investment.
“We do investment conferences in different areas. We just came back from an invest conference in Miami called C.H.R.I.S, which is the Caribbean Hotel Resort Investment Summit, and we were able to talk about St. Kitts and who we are as a country.
“So, basically, our approach is to be out there and up front and invest St. Kitts at different forums.”
This was highlighted in the 2013 National Budget reading by Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, when he stated that St. Kitts had recorded an increase in interest from investors.
“The St. Kitts Investment Promotion Agency recorded increased interest from both foreign and local investors in undertaking business ventures in St. Kitts,” he said.
The Prime Minister also said in his Budget presentation that “SKIPA has continued to promote St. Kitts as a market for investment in renewable energy and energy efficient technologies, which have resulted in an upsurge in proposals for the establishment of related businesses”.
Ambassador Hazelle had recently stated that her agency is working to have the Federation promoted within new markets this year.
She however declared that finance and resources are two challenges that the agency faces and is seeking to overcome, because, at times, these are constraints to the agency’s operations.
The St. Kitts Promotion Investment Agency was established in December 2007 to be a driving force behind tourism within the Federation.
