St. Kitts Tourism

St. Kitts – Nevis Tourism Poised For Growth

Future Site of Silver Reef Development

Future Site of Silver Reef Development
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis,
July 08, 2008 (CUOPM)

The tourism industry is set for an unparalleled period of growth.

That’s according to St. Kitts and Nevis‘ Minister of State for Tourism, Sen. the Hon. Richard “Ricky” Skerrit.

In an exclusive insight for TravelMole – – the online community for the travel and tourism industry ““ Minister Skerrit detailed the strategy of  “˜synching’ – a move away from the previously dominant sugar trade to a sustainable, responsible tourism industry aligned with a more diverse agricultural policy.

“All the developments currently planned for the island  such as Kittitian Hill, Silver Reef and the massive Peninsula plan are all strands in an overall strategy of ensuring luxury, low impact products across the islands,” he said.

“These will help create local jobs, wealth and career paths for many of our citizens.”

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St. Kitts’ Bayfords Farm Is Being Renovated

Goat Pen in Saint Kitts

Goat Pen In Saint Kitts
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
June 25, 2008 (CUOPM)

With a significant increase in livestock production in St. Kitts, the Department of Agriculture says the Bayfords Farm is being rehabilitated after years of inactivity.

“There are a total of 21 Holstein cattle which consists of 17 females and 4 males. The fencing of approximately 25 acres has been repaired and pastures cleaned.  Ten acres of land has been identified at Bayfords farm as the designated pig production site for the St. Peter’s community,” said Acting Director if Agriculture, Mr. Ashton Stanley.

The Department of Agriculture also disclosed that Bourkes Breeding Unit has the responsibility for the conservation, multiplication and sale of pure breeding stock of sheep primarily Barbados Black Belly which saw a slight increase in 2007.

The Department of Agriculture is reporting that beef production during 2007 increased by 50.2 percent from 60,200 kilos in 2006 to 90,400 kilos in 2007.

It said that the increased production during 2007 was achieved mainly by the willingness of the local supermarkets to purchase more local beef at a competitive price and the ability of the farmers to supply.

The Department said it facilitated the sale of 49,340 kilos of beef to supermarkets and other processors and 8,415 kilos to the school feeding programme.

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St. Kitts’ Tourism Aims For The Luxury Market

Bob and Elvis Tour Bus - St. Kitts

Luxury Tourism In St. Kitts Is The Goal
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
June 25, 2008 (CUOPM)

Targeting the luxury traveler may seem out of sync given the current economic climate of soaring fuel prices, high air fares, inflation and a sagging dollar.

But not to Sen. the Hon. Richard “Ricky” Skerritt, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture.

“We’ve got challenges, to be sure, but I’m reading the right market,” he was quoted by Gay Nagle Myers in the Travel Weekly ““ the National Newspaper of the Travel Industry.

When St. Kitts moved from 350 years of sugar production to a tourism-based and tourism-driven economy in 2005, Minister Skerritt was instrumental in orchestrating a revised tourism policy and a strategic tourism plan. Key elements of the plan included the development of high-end resorts with residential components.

“The luxury market continues to look for investment opportunities in second and third homes,” he said. “St. Kitts is a fresh opportunity.”

However, the current economic scenario forces travelers to be more creative and careful in their quest for vacation experiences, according to Skerritt, who said: “More than 50 percent of our revenue comes from tourism. St. Kitts has to fight for market share where there is growth.”

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PAM Does Not Have Permission To Mount Billboards

Richard Skerrit - Tourism Minister for St. Kitts - Nevis

Richard Skerrit – Tourism Minister for St. Kitts – Nevis
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
June 05, 2008 (CUOPM)

The numerous and unsightly political billboards mounted by agents of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) all over the St. Kitts landscape does not have the permission from the appropriate department.

Minister of State for Tourism, Sen. the Hon. Richard Skerritt reminded Parliament Wednesday of the well established motive and policy of the opposition People’s Action Movement to attempt to destroy the economy of the country as long as they do not hold the reins of government.

“And it is clear to me that these PAM political billboards are  part of PAM’s desperate attack on the exceptionally high level of investor confidence and positive buzz that has been generated in the North American and UK marketplaces about the future of our Tourism sector,” said Minister Skerritt.

He told Parliamentarians that the numerous and unsightly political billboards have been constructed on public roadside spaces and nailed on to lamp-posts, belonging to the Electricity Department, without seeking the appropriate permission from the Department of Physical Planning, in the Ministry of Sustainable Development.

“Mr Speaker, because the appropriate Government  agency does not fall under the responsibility of the Ministry that I have the honour to lead, I can only hope that the relevant authority in the Ministry of Sustainable Development will take the necessary remedial action in the interest of the protection of our rights as citizens to enjoy our natural environment, visually and otherwise, and in the midst of this blatant disregard for public rules and good order by the leaders of the People’s Action Movement,” Minister Skerritt.

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