St Kitts is riding a wave of success in its cruise tourism industry, with an 8 per cent increase in cruise passenger arrivals recorded during the 2024-2025 peak season compared to the previous year.
Minister of Tourism, Marsha Henderson, announced the boost during a press conference held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort on April 29.
She highlighted that the island welcomed 748,056 cruise passengers between October 2024 and April 2025, up from 690,244 the previous season.
“There was a healthy increase,” said Henderson, attributing the positive trend to strategic collaboration.
“This growth is the result of the collective efforts among the Ministry of Tourism, the sister agencies, and the industry partners, all focused on enhancing the guest experience, improving our port facilities, and ensuring visitor satisfaction and safety.”
The minister emphasised that while the numbers are encouraging, the real value of tourism lies in its impact on the people of St Kitts. “However, we recognise the true success in tourism is not only measured in numbers, but in the tangible impact on the lives of our citizens,” she stated.
As part of efforts to ensure wider community benefits from the tourism sector, the Ministry of Tourism launched the Tour Development Programme in August 2024.
The initiative supports small business owners in designing unique and culturally rich tour experiences.
“I am proud to share that 15 companies are currently participating in the programme and we remain committed to their success,” Henderson said.
Another major development for small operators is the resolution of long-standing insurance issues, enabling them to now offer tour packages directly through cruise lines, leveling the playing field with larger operators.
Looking ahead, Henderson revealed that top executives from Royal Caribbean Group are set to visit the island later this month to strengthen partnerships and learn more about St Kitts’ tourism offerings. Their visit follows a successful engagement by Carnival Corporation representatives in October 2024.