Part of Tourism Refurbishment Plan
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DESIGNED to enhance the island’s tourism product as well as the experience of visitors to the island, several projects including the refurbishment of historical sites and a makeover for the Frigate Bay Strip are set to come on stream, in some cases, in the upcoming months.
In addressing stakeholders of the tourism sector this morning (Nov. 11) at a meeting at the Ocean Terrace Inn, Minister with responsibility for Tourism Hon. Lindsay Grant gave an insight into the plans.
One such plan, Grant indicated, is the enhancement of popular hangout spot, the Frigate Bay Strip. He said this project would run the Government in the region of $7M and it is scheduled to begin early next year and run into the following year.
“The enhancement of the Strip at Frigate Bay and the Beach Replenishment…we are going to put in a boardwalk at the Strip, we are going to put in roads, we are going to enhance the marsh areas, and we are going to develop some restaurants around the pond. It’s a magnificent project! A project that is costing the Government somewhere in the region of $7M and its going to be a beauty, I believe, when completed.”
He also spoke of the construction of a second cruise pier, which he declared is expected to be completed by the 2016/2017 cruise season.
Grant said the Ministry of Tourism would embark on a six-pronged exercise that would see the enhancement of historical sites across the island.
“We are going to work closely to ensure that Beautiful Basseterre comes again on-stream. I’ve had discussions already with the Chairman of the Board. We are going within very short order. Within the next two weeks I believe we are going to do some work on our iconic Circus Clock. We are going to refurbish that and ensure that the clock is again working.
“We are going to do work on the two fountains that are in the Basseterre region; one in the Square and one on Fort Street. We are also going in conjunction with the building owners around Basseterre to try to improve the building stock around Basseterre. We have to ridge the reef project which is a Cayon river watershed project. That’s the old cotton ginnery in Spooners. Over the next 12 months we are going to enhance that project to make it an additional site for visitors coming to St. Kitts.”
The Tourism Minister indicated that the recalibration of visitor experience at Port Zante, the refurbishment and upgrade of the Amina Craft Market and the Pelican Mall, as well as a project to mitigate against erosion on key beaches, are to come on stream in the near future.
“There is the abandoned old sugar railway project. We had done some work on that; in that we are carving out a new site, a new attraction for our visitors. We have the Eco Park which the Government is slated to take over from December 2016. We have much on that to do. We have the Black Rocks Project which has been stagnant for some time. We intend to do some serious work on that to ensure it is at a level that is commensurate with the experience that we want to give our visitors.”
Grant expressed his excitement over “what the Ministry of Tourism, along with the Tourism Authority, can and would deliver over the next 12 months”. But he noted that there is need for engagement between the public and private sectors, and workable solutions to problems facing the tourism industry must be devised.
