It’s been a tough couple years, but St. Kitts and Nevis are poised to bounce back in a big way.
Visitors are being welcomed, a range of activities are available, and most hotels are open, Ellison “Tommy”Thompson, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, said in a Zoom chat this week.
Thompson formerly worked in tourism in The Bahamas and just came to his new role in January, so he’s looking at St. Kitts with fresh eyes.
“We see St. Kitts as a real fun, adventure place,” Thompson told me. “There’s quite a lot to do here. We’re also targeting younger demographic and folks for weddings, romance travel and vow renewals.”
Thompon said Canadians are particularly interested in the culinary delights of St. Kitts, whether that be barefoot elegance on the sand at a place like Vibes Beach Bar, or a fine dining experience at Marshalls Restaurant.
PARK HYATT ST KITTS. Photo: Tadeu Brunelli
Kittitian Hill and the Ramada are closed, but Thompson said the Park Hyatt, Marriott and Royal St. Kitts are all open.
Activities also are pretty much back in full operation mode, including ATV rides, catamaran sails, the island’s hot springs, and safari tours for hiking in the rainforest. One of the unique activities on St. Kitts is the island’s Scenic Railway, which takes passengers on a 30-mile circle on a rail line built in the early 1900’s to transport sugar cane from the plantations to Basseterre.
Thompson said guests on board the train pass villages and schools where kids come out and wave. They also enjoy remarkable views of the St. Kitts’ coastline from on high and hear stories from on-board guides on what’s known as “The Last Railway in the West Indies.”
Thompson said guests take the train one way and then a bus back the other direction.
Although he’s only been on the island a few weeks, Thompson is definitely sold on St. Kitts.
“There’s a feeling you get when you’re on the island,” he said. “It’s sort of a Zen feeling, very much that you’re home and everyone’s just so welcoming and helpful. The hospitality is amazing.
“The beauty of St. Kitts is just stunning,” he said. “The Bahamas is very flat, but here you have the mountains and the lush greens and the views of the ocean.”
Thompson said the island is seeing an increase in inquiries and website visits, and also in arrivals. Air Canada isn’t flying to St. Kitts right now, but Canadians can fly via Atlanta or Miami, and Thompson very much hopes to see Air Canada planes touching own again come November.
The lush interior of St. Kitts. Photo Courtesy St. Kitts Tourism.
Paul Minich, Marketing Consultant, Canada, said roughly 12,000 Canadians visited St. Kitts prior to the pandemic.
“We were really in growth mode,” he said. “Air Canada added a second week at one point, so we believe the demand is there.”
As for visitors today, Thompson said a negative PCR test result is required within 72 hours of arrival. Only adults who are fully vaccinated with two shots of an approved vaccine (Astra Zeneca is fine, as are mixed vaccines) are allowed to enter.
There’s no quarantine required unless you’re traveling with kids 18 and under who aren’t vaccinated. Even then, you only need to quarantine for 24 hours while you wait for a test result, he said.
Thompson said there have been no reported COVID-19 cases in St. Kitts for the past few days. He also said 82% of residents have had one vaccine, while 64% have had two vaccinations.
