Last Updated on January 17, 2020, 2:28 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, the honorable Dr Timothy Harris claimed during a press conference that the National Unity government would continue to strengthen the vibrancy of the Federation’s tourism sector in 2020 which is a key contributor to the national economy.
PM Harris disclosed that as per report prepared by the St. Christopher Air and Sea Port Authority’s (SCASPA), St Kitts and Nevis tourism sector recorded 1,045,846 cruise passengers in 2019.
“This is the second consecutive year that Federation has crossed the million-passenger cruise arrival mark,” he said.
According to the air arrivals reported at RLB International Airport, there was a total of 163,453 passengers up 7% or 10,113 passengers over 153,340 arrivals in 2018.
PM Harris said that in 2020, the Team Unity government plans to invest more in the tourism sector. This was expressed in the Budget address in December last year. In fact, $25.1 million were allocated to the tourism ministry to carry out the recurrent programs and its activities.
He said a significant part of that investment will be made by the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA).
“We inherited a woefully inadequate and rundown tourism infrastructure,” he said. “Prudent fiscal management never before practiced as the rule allowed us to make significant progress in correcting the run-down infrastructure.”
PM Harris stated that the government has rehabilitated the airport infrastructure at the RLB International Airport by investing in: Resurfacing of Runway, Taxiway “B” & “C” in asphalt; Installation of brand-new Runway solar lighting system; Installation of a new elevator within the Departure Hall; Installation of new conveyor belt systems and baggage carousels; and Resurfacing of Taxiway “A” in concrete. Alpha Taxiway would be fully operational by the first quarter of 2020.
He said that their aim is to make RLB International Airport the most used, user friendly, efficient and effective airport in the region. “These transformational developments did not occur in past 20 years. In less than 5 years, we have progressed in leaps and bounds. We need to lock in these gains by ensuring a return of Team Unity government.”
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
