Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 12, 2016 (SKNIS): A three member delegation from the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) met with members of the Cabinet of National Unity on August 10 to discuss further improvements to and impacts on the cruise tourism sector.
Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris welcomed Michele Paige, President of the Caribbean Cruise Association; Carlos Torres de Navarra, Vice President Commercial Port Operations at Carnival Cruise Line; and Federico Gonzalez-Denton, AVP Government Relations Latin
America and Caribbean at Royal Caribbean Cruises, to the Cabinet Room at Government Headquarters.
Members of the Executive in attendance who met with the delegation included the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Lindsay Grant; Minister of Agriculture et al, the Hon. Eugene Hamilton; Attorney General, the Hon. Senator Vincent Byron; Minister of State within the Ministry of Health et al, the Hon. Senator Wendy Phipps; Minister of Public Infrastructure et al, Hon. Ian Patches Liburd; Cabinet Secretary, Mrs. Josephine Huggins; Chairman of the Board of the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA), Mr. Don Boncamper; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Mrs. Carlene Henry-Morton; Financial Secretary, Mrs. Hilary Hazel; Chief Executive Officer of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Racquel Brown; and Past President of Hotel and Tourism Association (HTA), Mr. Nicolas Menon.
The FCCA Delegation and the Cabinet mutually engaged in discussions surrounding visitor experience impact, the role of independent operators, range of product offerings, and the economic impact in relation to cruise and stay over visitors.
At a forum with the FCCA and stakeholders held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Lindsay Grant, said “The Ministry of Tourism is fully cognizant of the challenges that lie ahead and we embrace the recommendations from the FCCA, with a commitment to working in partnership with all stakeholders to facilitate the development of a sustainable and even more prosperous tourism cruise sector,” while noting that St. Kitts had increased its product offering which have had “a positive impact on the performance of the tourism sector as a whole.”
