St Kitts and Nevis named in American Express Travel's top 10 destinations list

St Kitts and Nevis has secured itself a place among the 2024 Trending Destinations: Off the Beaten Path list released by American Express Travel. It is one of 10 destinations to make to the list and the sole one in the Caribbean.

Notably, it is also the first Caribbean destination to make this list of American Express Travel since Nassau in 2019.

American Express Travel referred to St Kitts and Nevis as a country is an ideal fusion of medieval forts and vibrant ports, featuring Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Port Zante, which welcomes all major cruises.

Getting this prestigious recognition is a significant stride for the small island nation. Since the new administration took office in August 2022, the tourism sector of the country has seen major achievements because of the continuous developments in the country.

The magazine highlighted that this two-island nation has sparkling seas, friendly locals, as well as history, which adds a serious cultural layer to any fun-in-the-sun getaway.

Both the islands are unique in their own way, and the publication said that St Kitts is busier and more developed while Nevis is home to more lush nature. Both these locations are perfect for sipping rum drinks and hanging out, added American Express.

Talking about the cuisine, American Express said that visitors could indulge in a tasty fusion of French, Indian and Caribbean cuisines.

"Two of the signature dishes of St Kitts and Nevis are fish roti and a flavorful goat stew called "goat water," outlined American Express.

They also highlighted that visitors can hike rainforest nature trails on either island, keeping an eye out for the famous vervet monkeys.

"Another great way to see the lush side of St Kitts is by train – it is home to one of the last railways in the West Indies," it added.

[caption id="attachment_66173" align="aligncenter" width="2461"] PC - American Express[/caption]

The complete list of 2024 Trending Destinations: Off the Beaten Path released by American Express is as follows:

• Adelaide Hills, Australia
• Bodrum, Turkey
• Niseko, Japan
• Porto Cervo, Italy
• St Kitts and Nevis, Caribbean Sea
• San Miguel De Allende, Mexico
• Santa Fe, United States
• Seychelles, Indian Ocean
• Udaipur, India
• Zermatt, Switzerland

St Kitts and Nevis Tourism Analytics of 2023

As per the Ministry of Tourism, from January to September 2023, St Kitts welcomed 77,570 visitors, which was a 38% increase from the first three quarters of 2022. From the period of December 15 to January 2, the island welcomed over 11000 passengers, 2000 more than the past year.

St Kitts has always been a popular stop for cruise ships, and a total of 574,087 cruise passengers visited the island from January to September 2023. Talking about this year, the island's cruise sector will be getting a great start by welcoming the world's largest cruise ship - Icon of the Seas.

This ship of the Royal Caribbean will be making its inaugural call to St Kitts on January 27, 2024. [caption id="attachment_62325" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Image of Icon of the Seas[/caption]

As per the reports, for the 2023-24 winter season, a total of 342 ships are scheduled to make a stop at St Kitts and Nevis, which is more than 2022's 328 cruises.

The tourism officials of St Kitts are also anticipating on new airlift to draw several more visitors. A major addition to the airline service was the November's debut of JetBlue's year round service from New York's John F Kennedy Airport three days a week.

Also, the services from Newark, New Jersey, which usually ends in March or April, have also been extended till the end of August, which will make it easier for visitors to visit St Kitts for big events such as St Kitts and Nevis Restaurant Week and St Kitts Music Festival in July.

During an interview last year, the CEO of the St Kitts Tourism Authority, Ellison 'Tommy' Thompson, outlined, "Due to the recent expansion in the airlift services this last year, the country expects an increase in visitors on the island. The aim is to achieve our pre-COVID numbers and exceed them."

New Administration aims to boost Tourism

The St Kitts and Nevis Labour Administration assumed office in August 2022, and since then, it has worked to strengthen the tourism industry of the island nation. The government has also predicted a growth of 7.3% for St Kitts and Nevis tourism in 2024.

The St Kitts Tourism Authority is also working hard by engaging in several international conferences and making its presence known among world leaders. The Authority aims to enhance the overall visitor experience through major upgrades, which include enhancing operational efficiency at the ports.

The government has also made major updates to the Robert L Bradshaw airport to enhance the visitor experience. The airport also has a new apron, which will welcome more flights than earlier.