(ZIZ News) — St. Kitts Nevis is observing November as Tourism Month and the Ministry of Tourism has organized a month-long series of activities to highlight the importance of the tourism sector.
In his address to officially launch the month, Minister of Tourism, the Hon Lindsay Grant noted the impact tourism has on national development.
“The tourism sector is widely acknowledged as the major engine of economic growth and national development in the Federation, employing approximately 25 percent of the nation’s workforce and contributing directly or indirectly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product or GDP by 25.5% according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.”
He said with visitors spending over five hundred million dollars every year the tourism industry has spill-over effects into other sectors as well.
“Such as agriculture, local fisheries, handicraft, entertainment, real estate, creative designs, engineering and construction. Tourism has therefore become important to all of us in some form or some fashion. That is why it is important that individually and collectively we all work to understand the various facets of our tourism industry”
Tourism Month 2016 is being held under the theme “Tourism, Education, Connectivity, And Sustainability”.
Activities include workshops, a photo competition and exhibition, talks in the various schools and community outreach programmes.