Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 24, 2016 (SKNIS): Speaking at the 2016 St. Kitts Tourism Experience Awards, held at Carambola Beach Club on May 21, Minister of Tourism, Honourable Lindsay Grant, stated that St. Kitts must “continually and consistently strive for excellence to improve upon the experiences provided to visitors.”

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To this end, said the minister, the Ministry of Tourism and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority are reorganising Port Zante to streamline passenger flow and improve upon the ground handling systems.  Additionally, the new licensing regulations and standards, which will become operative in June 2016 in the tourism sector and in accordance with the prescribed areas act, have been implemented.

 

“Further, we have completed training for the ground transportation sector which includes the taxi and tour operators with over 300 taxi operators attending refresher courses and training in 2015,” said the minister.

 

Improvements of the Frigate Bay Strip a $7 million development, “which will transform the strip and make it the very best beach experience in the Caribbean,” have already commenced.

 

He mentioned that training for the various vendors including the primate, and aloe rub vendors, the massage therapists and the craft vendors has started. He added that this year training efforts will continue for additional subsectors such as the water sports and work to establish the school of excellence, which he said “is absolutely necessary at this juncture of our national development.”

 

“It is important because we need to create the environment for our youth to showcase and acquire the skills that are necessary in a competitive and changing global environment,” said Minister Grant. “It is our responsibility both individually and collectively to train and develop our young people who are our greatest resource and the future of this tourism industry.”

 

He added that training equates to providing world class consumer service the industry is anticipating the needs of guests and not only meeting the needs but exceeding their expectations.

 

“It is only by all of us working together collectively that we will be able to provide the experiences that are necessary, that will touch the heart and will make people want to ‘Follow their Hearts’ to our shores again and again,” said Minister Grant.