These updates to the system are part of the destination’s continued efforts to improve the new dispatching system implemented on 14^th February, 2017. Prior to the implementation of the system, the St. Kitts Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism had several meetings with taxi operators in 2016 and continued their consultations in 2017 in an effort to continually address the on- going challenges of lack of transparency, harassment and perceived unfair dispatching practices at Port Zante.

Starting on Monday 19^th June, 2017 all tours and beach excursions will be dispatched according to the government’s regulated fares. Also, all vehicles that carry a capacity of 15 or more seats will be dispatched no more than 12 passengers on any given ship day.  Special considerations will be given for groups.
 
Minister of Tourism The Hon. Lindsay F.P. Grant said the improvement of operations of Port Zante continues to be a work in progress, in collaboration with all stakeholders in the cruise sector, to streamline the dispatching of visitors to taxi and tour operators.

The St. Kitts Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism had consulted the operators during a series of meetings on 25^th May (All Taxi Operators) and 30^th May, 2017 (Open-Air Operators) in an effort to get their feedback on how their concerns could be addressed.

Minister Grant said his team is fully cognizant of the various challenges in the system, however his team is committed to working in partnership with all stakeholders to facilitate the development of a sustainable and even more prosperous tourism cruise sector.
 
“ We must all strive to do better as St. Kitts approaches the status of being a marquee port,” Minister Grant said. “Bearing this in mind it is imperative that we operate at standards that will ensure that our guests receive the highest level of service. Our strategy is based on achieving consistency and sustainability on all fronts. We are also building-in safety and security considerations in all of our decisions. We are always mindful that we are competing in a global market. Success is measured by the amount of per-person spend, average time spent on shore, and satisfaction level by visitors.”
 
Other changes to be made on Port Zante on Monday 19^th June, 2017 include the following:
 
Open Air Safaris Revisions
A rotation will be established for Open Air which will limit the number of Open Air Safaris dispatched per day. A maximum of 6 Open Air Safaris will be dispatched in a rotation. The other Safaris Operators will be permitted to join the free line when it is not their rotation.
 
Dispatching Process Revisions
The dispatchers compliment will comprise of the following on any given ship day:

1. 1 President to oversee operations
2. 2 dispatchers from each Association
3. 1 dispatcher to represent Open Air Safari Operators
4. 2 Dispatchers from the SKTA

 Also:

1. Dispatchers will be required to dispatch for a minimum of 3 hours before they are dispatched a job.
2. The SKTA dispatchers will be responsible for dispatching a job to the dispatchers whether it be on the same day or the next day to ensure transparency in the system.

The system was implemented to create transparency and these revisions are aimed at improving the guest experience and to showcase the destination’s product offerings with the goal of creating an equal opportunity for all to earn.