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

Port Zante, St. Kitts – Aerial View
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
March 14, 2012 (CUOPM)

Over 5,000 cruise ship passengers were visiting St. Kitts – Nevis onboard three ships on Wednesday bringing to 22,754 for this week from 10 cruise liners.

The 2,850-passenger Celebrity Eclipse, which arrived from St. Maarten, brought 3,125 passengers and the 2,680-passenger Carnival Miracle had onboard 2,460 passengers. Both docked at Port Zante while the 90-passenger Le Levant had 79 guests onboard.

Most of the 5,664 passengers disembarked and went on sight-seeing tours in Basseterre and island wide via the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, buses or taxis as well as to Brimstone Hill, sea and sun bathing on the beaches, snorkeling, sailing to Nevis, horseback riding, golfing, casino gambling, shopping and biking while others took time to surf the internet and make contact with friends and family.

On Tuesday the 2,281-passenger Mein Schiff 2 had on 1,891 passengers; the 2,540-passenger Serenade of Seas brought 2,430 passengers and 1,450 guests were onboard the 1,611-passenger Thomson Dream.

On Monday the 3,100-passenger Ventura arrived with 3,132 passengers; the 2,850-passenger Celebrity Silhouette had on 2,864 passengers and 2,265 passengers were onboard the 2,450-passenger Celebrity Summit.

The 3,597-passenger Azura docked on Sunday with 3,058 passengers.

An estimated 31,000 cruise passengers are expected to visit St. Kitts from 14 ships this week.

SCASPA reports 600,131 cruise passengers visited St. Kitts in 2011 from 305 calls, 84,392 more than the 515,739 cruise passengers in 2010 from 257 calls and 170,752 more passengers than the 429,379 in 2009 from 219 calls.

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Cape Air Plane on Nevis Runway

Charlestown, Nevis
November 22, 2011

Despite an official ceremony planned for November 30, General Manager of the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority [NASPA], Mr. Spencer Hanley, and Airport Manager Mr. Stephen Hanley joined members of staff of the Vance W. Amory [VWA] International Airport in the inaugural welcome of United States-based airline, Cape Air.

Cape Air, which touched down at the former Newcastle Airport on November 11, has since been providing daily trips to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The longstanding company plans to extend its Nevisian service on December 22, with an additional flight. Since its inaugural flight, Cape Air has departed Nevis at 10:00 am and returned at 6:00 pm.

“We are extremely excited. It’s always good to have additional airlifts into Nevis, regardless of size,” General Manager Hanley said as he spoke with the Department of Information about the benefits to the island’s economy.

“It means landing fees, parking fees and other types of fees and it also means that tomorrow morning [November  12], the passengers who are outbound will be able to get out at an early time. It is extremely important to us, as a destination, as an airport, to be able to provide that type of service,” Mr. Hanley added.

Realising that many Nevisians desire to “take day trips to San Juan,” the NASPA official said the new service meant great things “for the tourism sector.”

“Now people can realise their dreams of flying directly into Nevis and also too, beyond that, even local persons whether you are the expats or the local you and me, we can now take day trips into San Juan and do our shopping and be able to get back here by night-time to enjoy Nevis,” General Manager Hanley explained.

Meantime, Airport Manager Hanley was particularly pleased to welcome the new service, as, according to him, “it had been rather slow” [recently] at the VWA International Airport.

“It has been difficult at times to see our way but we are happy for the additional business that is coming on and we are hoping that there would be others to follow,” Airport Manager Hanley said, adding that Cape Air’s service was expected to “assist the [tourism] industry.”

“Yes, it’s a smaller aircraft and it can only carry nine passengers at a time but every little bit counts and that is what we are hoping for: that we can build on this,” he said while noting that “Cape Air had done a lot of work in preparing” to add Nevis to its list of destinations.

“They had their maintenance crew in, their fuel people in, their station people in, the ramp trainers and everybody related in their aspect of the industry: all the ground work. I’m really impressed with their preparation and so I believe that they have done their homework and that they would certainly do a good job,” Airport Manager Hanley explained.

Captain Michael Aceto, like his passengers, received a “warm Nevisian welcome” from the airport’s staff, particularly Immigration Official, Mrs. Sandra Willett.

“I love serving Nevis,” he said as he underpinned the joy felt when “serving the community.”

“This place is beautiful. It’s wonderful and I’m having a lot of fun.”

Cape Air is headquartered in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and currently serves in excess of 50 destinations, including most of the Virgin Islands.

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2. Nevis Tourism Authority Head Challenges Windward Island Airways
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4. British Airways Flight Can Boost Nevis Tourism
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Nevis Tourism Head – John Hanley

Charlestown, Nevis
October 05, 2011

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nevis Tourism Authority (NTA) Mr. John Hanley challenged Windward Island Airways (Winair) to find a way to offer its passengers lower fares, to help stimulate travel demand.
He was at the time delivering remarks at a reception hosted by the airline recently in celebration of its 50th anniversary. He said though the airline had accomplished much over its 50 years, it was important for them to do even better than before.

“I challenge Winair to do all in its power to improve vital customer service excellence. I challenge Winair to continue to recognise the importance of punctuality and reliability while flying your deserving and discriminating passengers. I challenge Winair to be better corporate citizens by partnering with social and humanitarian causes in the five destinations it serves.

“I dare say that only when Winair is in a position to arise to the occasion and address these critical challenges that I have just mentioned, then and only then will they have the fortitude and competitive advantage which will ensure their survival in these difficult times,” he said.

While Mr. Hanley congratulated the Airline on its milestone, he registered hope that they would continue to provide an air bridge to St. Maarten for Nevisians and their guests for many years to come.

He said Winair had been important to Nevis over the past 30 years and adequate air connectivity was one of the most critical factors affecting the survival of the destination and the island’s tourism industry.

“Winair has been providing a high level of convenience to our locals and tourists alike, with direct connection to St. Maarten for shopping, for onward connections with over a dozen major airlines servicing North America, Latin America as well as Europe.

“Winair’s service has, for the most part, been reliable and punctual. Considering the fact that Winair flies to some of the smallest and most difficult little airports in the world, the airline must be very highly commended for its impeccable safety record,” he said.

Meantime, General Manager of the Airport at Newcastle Mr. Steven Hanley in brief remarks also noted the travelling public’s confidence in the airline over its 50-year and its exemplary safety record.

“As history shows Winair has proven their track record in safety. In the golden year of their existence, this remarkable airline has also demonstrated that no horizon is so far that it cannot be attained,” he said.

The Airport Manager explained that his association with Winair had spanned 22 years so far, first as a passenger then as an air traffic controller and now as airport manager.

He noted that the fact that the airline had survived the test of time, the uncertainty of passenger traffic numbers, administrative changes and challenges and modifications to schedules and destinations was testament to its resilience and its core staff.

However, Mr. Hanley also issued a challenge to Winair as it entered its 51st year of operations and another to Nevisians.

“Continue to be the faithful bridge over the waters between Nevis and St. Maarten and the other Netherland Antilles. Equally I challenge the Nevis public; let us repay the faithfulness of this airline with our continued support – Fly Winair,” he said.

Winair celebrated its 50th anniversary with a reception at each of its destinations.

Related posts:

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2. Nevis Tourism Interests Looks Forward To American Eagle Flights
3. Nevis Tourism Authority Appoints New CEO
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5. Nevis Tourism Authority Launches New Marketing Brochure