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Basseterre, St. Kitts, 18 June 2026 — A series of stakeholder engagement meetings has been launched by Hon. Marsha T. Henderson, Minister of Tourism, International Transport, Civil Aviation, Urban Development and Employment, with a focus on evaluating the performance of the current cruise season and preparing strategically for the next.
Held on 16 June 2026 at the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club, the inaugural session brought together members of the taxi fraternity. Discussions during the meeting underscored the successes of the 2025/2026 cruise season while creating a valuable forum for industry stakeholders to receive updates and contribute perspectives on issues affecting the visitor experience.
Key topics explored included the forthcoming Rainforest Tour Guides Policy, operational challenges, opportunities to enhance tourism products, and initiatives aimed at strengthening the destination’s overall appeal. Input from taxi operators proved particularly significant, given their critical role as frontline ambassadors within the tourism sector.
Insights shared by the Ministry highlighted strong cruise arrivals—the highest recorded since 2019—alongside a promising and active summer schedule.
“Tourism continues to be the backbone of our economy. As we look towards the future it is critical that we focus on increasing benefits of tourism through the engagement of our communities and increase spend to drive growth in our economy.” said Minister Henderson.
Participating in the consultations were Ms. Tivanna Wharton, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism; Ms. Kelly Fontenelle, Chief Executive Officer of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority; and Mrs. Melnecia Marshall, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority.
Representatives from key agencies, including the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA), the Frigate Bay Development Corporation, and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), also contributed to the discussions.
Emphasizing the value of continued stakeholder collaboration, Minister Henderson reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to fostering a tourism industry that delivers tangible benefits to local communities while enhancing the overall visitor experience.
Over the coming weeks, the consultation series will expand to include additional tourism partners as the Ministry and its agencies work collectively to position St. Kitts for another successful season.
Source: SKNIS
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