St. Kitts and Nevis is poised to achieve an extraordinary milestone in cruise tourism, as the destination expects to welcome over 1 million cruise passengers this winter season—this time due to the island’s robust tourism efforts rather than diverted traffic from neighbouring islands impacted by hurricanes.
The Federation, under the strategic leadership of Minister of Tourism, Marsha Henderson, has emerged as a top Caribbean cruise destination, drawing large volumes of visitors through organic growth for the first time.
Cruise tourism’s impact on the island is clear, with the latest figures from the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) revealing that St. Kitts and Nevis generated around US$113 million in direct spending in the previous season, ranking among the select nine Caribbean destinations to surpass US$100 million.
The FCCA’s data from the 2023/2024 season also shows that the Caribbean cruise sector overall brought in US$4.2 billion in direct expenditures across 33 destinations, generating 94,000 jobs and contributing US$1.28 billion in employee wages.
Despite this success, St. Kitts and Nevis faces key challenges in sustaining high levels of passenger engagement. Ship scheduling continues to be a hurdle, as many passengers are reluctant to disembark at the final stop of their cruise journeys.
The St. Kitts Tourism Authority’s Chief Executive Oofficer, Kelly Fontenelle, pointed out the importance of offering visitors something exclusive to St. Kitts and Nevis, stating, “When you arrive in St. Kitts, there must be something unique that cannot be found elsewhere in the Caribbean.”
Fontenelle highlighted the island’s need to enhance its visitor experience, making the destination a compelling stop even for passengers who might typically remain onboard.
Fontenelle stressed that the destination’s unique offerings, such as the renowned scenic railway and immersive farm-to-table tours, are essential to creating a memorable and distinguishable brand for the Federation.
“We must differentiate ourselves from destinations like Jamaica or Dominica,” she explained, underscoring the importance of new experiences, such as Mount Liamuiga tours with local, farm-fresh dining options.
The latest FCCA report indicates slight declines in disembarkation rates compared to 2018, with passenger disembarkation dropping from 85% to 83%, and crew rates falling from 39% to 30%. Despite these figures, average spending per passenger has seen a notable increase of 8.9%, up from US$133.25 in 2017/2018 to US$145.10 this season.
As the Federation approaches this impressive one-million visitor mark, tourism officials continue to push for a sustainable tourism model that harnesses local artisanship and promotes experiences unique to St. Kitts. By doing so, they aim to position the island as a premier Caribbean destination with distinct, memorable offerings for all who visit.
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