SKN must pursue heritage conservation
By Ryan Haas
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| Hon. Richard Skerritt, Minister of State responsible for Tourism, Culture and Sports |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-TOURISM stakeholders gathered Tuesday morning (July 8th) at the National Emergency Management Agency’s Board Room for a symposium on heritage conservation where they were urged by special guest speaker Dr. Kerry Hall to “have a paradigm shift from products to experiences”.
Hall, an eminent researcher in the history of Caribbean tourism, delivered an intelligent presentation on the current trends of tourism entitled, “Cultural Heritage: The Brightest Jewel in Tourism’s Crown.”
Throughout the presentation she outlined pertinent information relating to the changing global travel market.
“Tourism is the largest and fastest growing industry in the world,” Hall stated. “This year alone it is expected that tourism will gross US $8 trillion, and will reach US $15 trillion by 2018. We as a Caribbean region have to get more involved and we have to get our piece of the pie.”
It was made clear that the old ways of sun, sea and sand should not be viewed as ends in Caribbean tourism marketing, but merely a means to draw travelers in initially.
“Over 50% of travelers said they want see the culture of a destination through meaningful and authentic experiences,” Hall’s research pointed out. “Additionally, [heritage tourists] spend 38% more than traditional tourists and typically stay 32% longer.”
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| Dr. Kerry Hall, researcher in the field of Cultural/Heritage Tourism |
Tourists in search of heritage and cultural experiences are being targeted by markets around the world, including Europe, India and China, because they are often affluent individuals who will remain largely unaffected by the current global economic crisis.
Hall said that in spite of these facts, St. Kitts & Nevis had yet to fully embrace heritage tourism.
“There is a lack of governmental funding for heritage tourism. You find that is given low priority in the face of other pressing development needs. You find that we are tearing down 300-year-old buildings in three minutes, even though it cost us the same amount of money to tear it down as it would have to shore it up,” she said.
While some non-governmental organizations, such as the Brimstone Hill National Park Society, were lauded for being adamant about the preservation of culture, Hall said that there needs to be a concerted effort by the public and private sectors to offer a variety of heritage experiences.
“Upscale restaurants in New York are now serving something they call ‘Head-to-Tail’ cuisine. When you see how they are serving the ears, tongue and entrails that is turning the heads of high society you will cry. This is our tradition and we should not let them take it away from us anymore than they already have. ~~Adz:Left~~
“Modern tourists do not just want to sightsee, but rather want experiences they can take home to their cocktail parties and boast to their friends about,” Hall said.
According to Hall, the keys to successfully developing heritage are “authenticity, quality, education, interpretation, planning, research and most importantly public and private sector partnerships.”
The Minister of State responsible for Tourism, Culture and Sports, Hon. Richard Skerritt stated that he hoped the symposium would give the shareholders in culture and heritage not only ideas about how to better tourism in St. Kitts & Nevis, but also a “renewed sense of self-confidence and optimism about strengthening our heritage and the way it is preserved”.
