Prime Minister Douglas outlines plans for Tourism

(ZIZ News) — Tourism was one of the many sectors addressed early Friday morning when the nation’s Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, delivered his Independence address.

He told thousands who assembled at Warner Park, and many more listening and viewing on ZIZ Radio and Television that his Administration continues to work fervently to achieve its medium-term goal of more than doubling the number of stay over visitors to the country.

“Within a period of two to three years, we expect to more than double the number of hotel rooms that we have available in the Federation through the continued development of our Kittitian Hill, the expansion of the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, the renovation and upgrading of the Royal St. Kitts Hotel Resort, the construction of the Park Hyatt Hotel, the Pelican Bay Hotel Resort, the Koi Resort and Residences, the Heldon Estate Hotel, the expansion of Pirate’s Nest into a major resort and the construction of a range of other hotel properties approved under the Citizenship by Investment Programme in both islands of Nevis and Kt. Kitts,” he explained.

Prime Minister Douglas also reminded the audience of plans to construct another cruise ship pier at Port Zante. This, he said, will give St. Kitts-Nevis the capacity to handle more than 1.5 million cruise ship passengers annually.

He added that the 2014-2015 cruise ship season looks positive for persons employed in the tourism industry.

“In the upcoming tourist season, 2014-2015, we would have realised our goal of one million cruise ship passengers. At the same time, we intend to become a leading sub-regional centre for private jets and luxury travelers through the operation of Yu lounge and Private Jet Terminal that was recently constructed at our R.L.B. International Airport. Moreover, the Marina, which is being constructed at Christophe Harbour will help to establish our Federation as a haven for luxury yachts for their wealthy owners,” the Prime Minister stated.