Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 04, 2018 (SKNIS): Frontline workers in the tourism industry have greatly benefitted from the many advancements in St. Kitts. From the booming cruise industry to the building of world-renowned hotels, St. Kitts is on the move.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS) caught up with Annie Fontaine-Christopher of Annie’s Caribbean Tours and Excursions who said that tourism in St. Kitts is definitely on an upward trend.
Annie is an award-winning tour operator who has been in business for 35 years. Most notably, she has won the Trip Advisor Excellence Award for Tour Operators consecutively from 2014 to 2018.
Annie said that she has benefitted from the growth of the tourism industry. She noted that with the build-out of the new hotels; the larger cruise ships docking on the shores; the increased development on the South East Peninsula; the heightened success of the Citizen by Investment (CBI) Programme, and many more advancements, she has seen her business grow.
The tour operator said she is pleased that the Government is building a second cruise pier at Port Zante. She went on to note that with the arrival of more tourists, there are plenty of opportunities not just for her business, but for others, such as recent school leavers, to tap into the accelerated growth occurring in the tourism market.
A photographer, who was recently on one of her tours, said that he admired the beauty of the island. She told SKNIS that, with each picture he took, he was increasingly taken aback by the stunning landscape. Annie said this is further reason why we ought to take good care of our country. She also said that the island must always stay clean if tourism is expected to grow. “We want them to keep coming,” she said.
Education tourism was also highlighted by Annie, who noted that the universities in St. Kitts bring in students from all over the world. She added that their experiences on the island are important.
Annie said that St. Kitts has a rich history and, in fact, is called the “Mother Colony.” She noted that it is imperative that schools teach more local history in the classrooms.
The award-winning tour operator said that she is passionate about her job and hopes to grow along with the tourism industry.
