Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 21, 2015 (SKNIS): As a way of propelling the tourism industry forward, a series of workshops are being held to ensure that St. Kitts and Nevis produces an excellent tourism product.
One such workshop was held on October 20 for taxi operators and drivers where over 70 participants took part in the opportunity to move not only the destination forward but to improve their personal development.
“I believe that as the taxi operators and the taxi drivers, you are the ambassadors of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Minister of Tourism Honourable Lindsay Grant, to the participants. “You are probably one of the first persons and last persons a visitor will meet. So, the task that you have is very important because when we get our destinations rated in a large measure, it’s rated upon the treatment that you give to the visitors. That’s why it is very important that we execute and execute well.”
The minister stated that his ministry will be taking the training to the store owners, the front end persons at hotels, craft vendors and other persons who are vital to the industry to have “some semblance of uniformity along all sectors of the economy.”
“This economy is important to us because tourism is our economic driver,” explained the minister. “It is the main stay of our economy. Therefore, if we tinker with this and it fails, not only will the tourism industry fail but the entire Federation will be affected tremendously. That is why we have to treat it with care.”
The industry growth particularly in cruise tourism is evident. The Minister stated that due to the hard work of the main players of the industry, St. Kitts and Nevis is projected to welcome its millionth passenger who will arrive on the cruise ship Carnival Fascination on Friday July 22, 2016.