Basseterre, St. Kitts (03 April 2023) – The St. Kitts Tourism Authority’s marketing umbrella continues to soar to new heights, having achieved increased airlift in March 2023, positively impacting the destination’s upcoming Summer of Fun events. St. Kitts continues to trend as a “must-visit” Caribbean destination, a direct result of persistent promotional efforts in crucial source markets complimented by the Authority’s ability to build partnerships to ignite travel to the island.
Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Marsha T. Henderson, led a delegation at Routes America 2023, recently held in Chicago. Minister Henderson stated that her team had been engaged in fruitful discussions. “To date, we have been able to activate a robust plan to improve the tourism sector with the aim of achieving economic stability and rebuilding livelihoods.” She further announced the introduction of additional flights to assist with the destination’s upcoming St. Kitts Music Festival and returning students. The announcement denoted:American Airlines is offering additional non-stop flights from Miami, having two inbound flights on Wednesday, 21 June 2023, and two outbound flights on Sunday, 25 June 2023. The airline will also provide two daily flights non-stop from Miami from 15 August to 05 September 2023.interCaribbean Airways’ addition to St. Kitts’ airlift network will also positively impact the interconnectivity between Caribbean islands.
The quest to ignite travel to St. Kitts remains a top priority for the Authority. Recently, tourism and transport officials attended SeaTrade Global 2023, popularly known as the cruise industry’s leading annual business-to-business event. The event was held at Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center, fostering over 10,000 attendees, and presented an excellent opportunity for the destination to be marketed, given the growing competitiveness of the cruise sector.
“The attention on the cruise industry is at an all-time high,” stated Ellison “Tommy” Thompson, Chief Executive Officer at the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. The pandemic has shifted travel perceptions phenomenally, and we are seeing a tremendous increase in people wanting to participate in cruise travel. Therefore, our team must capitalize on these events to ensure that St. Kitts remains visible as a cruise destination.”
Further to marketing and promoting the destination, team members of the Authority also attended Atlanta’s Travel & Adventure Show. They hosted over 200 travel advisors while they traveled to New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut for additional promotional presentations.
The Authority continues to execute promotional efforts in each of its source markets. Recently, Lisa Elmes-Bosshard, Marketing Consultant, and Graham Hawkins, UK Trade Sales Representative at the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, alongside Julie Claxton, UK and Europe Sales and Airline Manager at the Nevis Tourism Authority, collectively updated tour operators of Tropic Breeze and Unite Caribbean on the destination’s unique tourism offerings, to market the destination as a twin-island stay.
As part of the Authority’s mission to celebrate the Kittitian experience, Joshua Williams, football cornerback of Kittitian descent for the 2023 NFL champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, was recently hosted and provided the opportunity to experience the newly introduced Kittitian RumMaster Program. The Authority was thrilled to have hosted Mr. Williams as part of its pursuit to continually celebrate Kittitian pride globally.
St. Kitts maintains its reputation as an exhilarating and adventurous travel experience. The Authority recently partnered with the Nevis to St. Kitts Cross-Channel Swim organizers as it celebrated 21 years since its inception. Approximately 200 persons navigated the narrows between the sister islands, which began at Oualie Beach, Nevis, and ended at Cockleshell Beach, St. Kitts. Jennifer Harding-Marlin championed the event, coming in at first place with a time of 1 hour and 9 minutes. The swim extends at 2.5 miles, becoming a “must experience” event in the global open swim calendar. The cross-channel swim continues to add to the continual immersive experience that the destination has to offer.
As St. Kitts gears up for its energetic calendar of events for its Summer of Fun campaign, the Ministry of Tourism and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority continues to promote collectively upcoming events which will foresee increased travel to the island, paving the way for remarkable economic opportunities for stakeholders.
The St. Kitts Music Festival recently launched its first wave of artists for the upcoming festival, which promises a joyride of music, fun, and vibes. The festival, to be held from 22-24 June 2023, will feature notable musical acts such as Air Supply, Chronixx, Skinny Fabulous, Koffee, Patrice Roberts, Valiant, Skillibeng, Govana, Byron Messia, and the Grand Masters Band. The line-up is expected to feature additional acts to be shortly announced and promises a night of musical excitement for visitors and residents alike.
Further to having fun in the summer, the St. Kitts-Nevis Restaurant week officially released its save the date for this year’s culinary experience. This year’s restaurant week will extend from 13 July to 23 July 2023 and is expected to host culturally rich experiences through a series of fun and engaging events showcasing Kittitian and Nevisian flavors.
One of the first events announced under Restaurant Week’s roster is “Grill Fest,” an event first of its kind that focuses on promoting local grillers, allowing them to showcase their culinary skills and expertise while competing for a winning title featuring prizes for participation.
“Summer of Fun in St. Kitts will be extraordinary,” stated Melnecia Marshall, Deputy CEO at the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. “We have recognized the importance of supplementing travel experiences for traditionally slower travel periods for our destination. Therefore, the Authority has integrated a robust marketing campaign to target the destination’s summer events. We are profoundly grateful for the economic benefits that high travel season provides, typically in the winter season; however, we want travelers to experience the energetic aspect of our culture in the summer months. As such, authentic travel experiences continue to headline our marketing strategies.”
St. Kitts continues to strategize and innovate to boost its competitiveness as a tourism destination.
