More than a million cruise ship tourists are expected to visit St. Kitts and Nevis during the 2017-2018 season, and this is happening for the first time for the federation.
The Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Lindsay Grant gave a report of the vibrant and ongoing success of the St. Kitts and Nevis tourism industry. He said that a 4.4 percent increase in stay over visitors is expected this year compared to the last year. St. Kitts and Nevis welcomed about 125,000 stay over visitors in 2016. Regarding cruise tourism, Minister Grant said that the one million passenger mark was missed last year by a mere 2,000 tourists. This year, however, a 50 percent increase is expected.
In the hotel arena, the Minister of Tourism said that on Nov. 17, the Caribbean’s first Park Hyatt will officially open in St. Kitts. It had its soft opening Nov. 1.
“Not only is it going to be the Caribbean’s newest hotel, but it is going to be a signal brand for the Park Hyatt,” Grant said. “[It is] the only Park Hyatt in the entire Caribbean.”
He added, “It augurs well for us, Mr. Speaker…we are on the cutting edge. Therefore, the only thing we are asking is that all the citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis rise to the occasion and deliver first-class service.”
Minister Grant mentioned that on Nov. 11, there was a ground-breaking ceremony for the US$120 million Seaview Gardens Hotel Project being undertaken by St. Kitts-Nevis Royal Limited. It will feature a 350-room hotel, condominiums, villas, a casino, as well as commercial and recreational spaces on just more than 19 acres of land.
“Something good is happening in St. Kitts and Nevis under Team Unity,” said the Minister of Tourism.
