Nevis, West Indies. ?A Non-Tourist-Trap? Blog About Nevis.

St. Kitts – Nevis’ Minister of Tourism – Richard Skerritt
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 15, 2012 (CUOPM)

A call has been made for tourism public and private sector stakeholders to develop stronger partnerships in order for the destination marketing strategy to more effectively meet the demands of today’s value-driven consumers in an increasingly competitive global market.

The call has come from Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Sen. the Hon. Richard Skerritt, at the annual marketing forum at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort earlier this month.

The annual event brought together a mix of tourism sector individuals and institutions to review results and to make input into the strategic plan for marketing the destination in the year ahead.

Tourism stakeholders including hoteliers and a variety of service providers turned out in impressive numbers, demonstrating their commitment to improving and growing St. Kitts’ tourism industry.

Rosecita Jeffers, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, during the two-day meeting, emphasized the importance of the forum’s ‘partnership’ theme and said.

“In order for St. Kitts to grow and thrive as a business and leisure travel destination, it is imperative that we cultivate a tourism marketing strategy that is based on effective partnership – partnership not only with our contracted agencies and representatives but, just as importantly, amongst all of our local stakeholders,” she said.

The Authority said in a statement on Monday, that overseas and locally based St. Kitts Tourism Authority officers and agents each presented updates on various market segment responsibilities, including the dive, weddings and other group niches, and examined the results of agent and operator productivity.

The introduction of a new Destination Specialist programme for travel agents was also discussed.  Presenters focused on providing private sector stakeholders with specific ways in which they could participate in various marketing activities, from submitting information for the island’s e-newsletters to providing brochures for trade and consumer shows.

Presentations even took place during lunch, which was sponsored by long-time advertising partner Bridal Guide magazine. Attendees were also briefed on the destination’s digital marketing programme, advertising and website by creative consultants ‘Tambourine’, and public relations consultants, ‘Adams Unlimited’, facilitated discussion on key social media initiatives as well as the results of the most recent exit surveys conducted at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport, offering concrete insight into actual visitor demographics and feedback from destination experiences.

In addition to the presentations, attendees were offered the option of taking part in one of two workshops, one designed to teach the essentials of how to use Twitter and the other to educate stakeholders about various sales tactics.

The St. Kitts Tourism Authority officers and consultants toured Kittitian Hill and Christophe Harbour tourism projects to provide them with first-hand knowledge to use in promoting the destination.  Officers and consultants were also allotted time to arrange and conduct one-on-one meetings with stakeholders before leaving the island.

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Nevis’ Premier and Minister of Tourism – Joseph Parry

Charlestown Nevis
May 12, 2012

Premier and Minister of Tourism, the Hon Joseph Parry has said that the two bills passed in the Nevis Island Assembly on Wednesday May 2, the Nevis Taxi and Tour Operators Ordinance, 2012 and Nevis Heritage and Conservation Trust Ordinance, 2012, form part of Government’s thrust to promote tourism on the island.

“The Taxi and Tour Operators Bill came out of the bowels of the people who are in the industry, the taxi men especially and other persons associated with the taxi trade,” advised Premier Parry when he addressed the nation on Tuesday, May 8 on his weekly live radio programme “In Touch With the Premier”, on Choice 105.3 FM and other radio stations.

He credited most of the work to Mr John Hanley, Nevis Tourism Authority’s CEO. After months of meetings and gathering information,The Nevis Island Administration’s Legal Department lent its support to make the Bill ready.

“I want to state to the people of Nevis that this Bill is very important because it is part of the effort to increase tourist traffic to Nevis,” observed Mr.Parry. He added that the new Bill would make sure that taxi drivers mare properly trained, properly licensed, and to ensure there are permanent designated parking areas, among others.

The new Bill will also ensure that the taxi operators know how to promote the island, and the Minister of Tourism hoped that they would do that. “All these things we want to continue to promote the island of Nevis,” he said.

Explaining why the Nevis Heritage and Conservation Trust Ordinance was drafted, Premier Parry said it was as a result of requests that would have been made in the past by the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society, and by others. His government looked around at what was happening in St. Kitts and other islands in the Caribbean, to prepare the Bill for Nevis.

He however lamented the fact that some members of the Opposition began to whisper to the expatriate community, who would have assisted the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society over the years, stating that the government wanted to take away the Historical Society from them.

“I am glad that several of them (expatriates) came to the House and they have now understood that there was no such intention,” reported the Premier. “All the government was seeking to do is to put in place an organization that can attract funding, develop these areas and conserve these areas and also to promote Tourism on the island of Nevis.”

Areas that will be promoted by the Trust will include the Hamilton House, New River Estate yard and buildings, Coconut Walk, Hamilton yard and ruins, Jews Cemetery and Synagogue, Eden Brown yard and ruins, Saddle Hill, Cottle Church, Forthergills Estate yard and Nevisian Village, Fort Charles, Indentured Servants Village and other monuments, buildings and sites which may from time to time be donated to, vested in or acquired by the Trust, and the members of the trust will promote it.

He categorically denied suggestions made by the Opposition that the government was planning to install political ‘hacks’ and civil servants in the new Trust, reminding that the NRP-led administration had already removed government ministers as heads of the Nevis Electricity Company (NEVLEC) and the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority (NASPA), adding that it was in the process of doing the same at the Nevis Housing and Lands Development Corporation.

Related posts:

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2. Tourism and Financial Bills For St. Kitts – Nevis Assembly
3. St. Kitts – Nevis National Assembly To Debate Five Bills
4. St. Kitts – Nevis Parliament To Debate Seven Bills
5. St. Kitts – Nevis National Assembly To Debate 8 Bills

President Obama with Ambassador Henry-Martin

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 02, 2012 (SKNIS)

St. Kitts and Nevis’ debut in this weekend’s Passport DC event in Washington, D.C. in the United States, has generated a buzz having been featured on a local television station.

The Federation’s Ambassador Her Excellency Jacinth Henry-Martin was one of four diplomats to be featured on FOX Network’s DC Affiliate WTTG Channel 5 on May 01. She was interviewed by FOX 5’s Holly Morris, who also spoke to the Consul General of Australia as well as the Ambassadors from South Africa and Australia.

Ambassador Henry-Martin told the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service that she was honoured to have portions of the display from St. Kitts and Nevis, which included local batiks, paintings and Brinley Gold Rum, highlighted on FOX. This is even more impressive considering that the embassy of the Federation is one of a record number of 42 embassies that will participate in the 5th anniversary of Passport DC, which is organized by Cultural Tourism DC.

“The benefits to us are untold,” the Ambassador said, noting that the two-minute appearance on television was a welcomed bonus that ordinarily would cost millions in advertising dollars. “… We are getting the word out that there is a St. Kitts and Nevis and that there is adequate airlift”

That message was not lost on the Australian Ambassador, His Excellency Ken Beazley, who told the interviewer that he has not been to the twin-island Federation but he has just seen the display “and I’ve got to say it’s going to be next on my list.”

Linda Harper, the Executive Director of Cultural Tourism DC, indicated that approximately 180,000 persons from 40 of the 50 American States attended events for Passport DC, last year.

St. Kitts and Nevis will be participating in the Around the World Embassy Tour on May 05 and Meridian International Children’s Festival on May 06.

During the embassy tour, visitors will be able to sample the national dish and Brinley Gold Rum, admire local batik as well explore St. Kitts and Nevis through various paintings, pictures and videos. While browsing, they will be entertained by a live soca band headed by a national living in D.C. At the children’s festival, local folklore will be highlighted. The costumes of traditional acts such as the clown and the masquerade will be displayed and an interactive segment will allow persons to produce their own cultural mask and learn basic dance steps.

Ambassador Henry-Martin thanked officials from the St. Kitts and the Nevis Tourism Authorities for their assistance as well as members of the local St. Kitts-Nevis National Association.

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