Page 9 - The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer Issue-1158-06012017

LOCAL NEWS The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer. Friday January 6, 2017 Page 9

Min of Tourism hoping to improve stay over visitors by 50%

The Ministry of Tourism
Hon. Lindsay Grant

Park Hyatt St. Kitts Exterior Lounge

By Loshaun Dixon the last five years at The Tourism Minister He said, “I believe some- He noted there has not putting numbers and the
about 125,000 passen- also was confident that times people need to be been any significant ground we have no time
Basseterre, St. Kitts- gers,” he said. “We need the opening of the Park nurtured and I believe the issues despite the chal- to deal with idleness.
The Ministry of Tourism to move that needle Hyatt Hotel in the spring store owners, taxi opera- lenges. What we have now is a
is making strides to per- upwards and my aim of this year would have a tors and the vendors will product putting 15,000
suade Federation visitors before I leave the office significant impact on begin to understand. I “I hope that for the rest people on the ground,”
to stay over and wants to is to grow that by at least stay over visitors. am hopeful once we do of the season all goes he said.
increase the number by 50 percent since the real that we will get things well. We must appreci-
50 percent in the years to money is in stay overs.” “The Park Hyatt has a under control.” ate that right now we are
come. collection of about four
He added that the Marina million loyal persons to
Tourism Minister the at Christophe Harbour is their brand that will mar-
Hon. Lindsay Grant said significant because of the ket their brand heavily,”
he is hoping to make the kinds of clientele it will he said.
gains before he leaves attract.
the office and gave his Grant said that while the
thoughts on how it could “It is the kind we want in government doesn’t have
be done. St. Kitts. Those who the money to spend on
have money and a large marketing, it can always
Mr. Grant said he was not disposable income to piggyback on Park Hyatt
looking for the growth in spend on the many to showcase brand St.
tourism through the attractions that we have Kitts. That can be signif-
cruise industry but rather in St. Kitts. I think we icant, he added.
is aiming for improve- are moving in the right
ments in relation to stay direction and just have to He also gave updates on
over visitors. make sure we keep it the retail stores coopera-
steady,” he said. tion at Port Zante
“We have been flat over

CMYK