Basseterre, Saint Kitts, March 31, 2026 (SKNIS): Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Marsha T. Henderson, has highlighted the Federation’s continued efforts to strengthen its tourism industry following a series of high-level engagements in the United Kingdom (UK) and Europe.
Speaking at the Prime Minister’s Press Conference with Cabinet Ministers on March 30 at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Conference Room, Minister Henderson shared that the recent mission focused on deepening relationships, expanding market reach, and positioning Saint Kitts and Nevis for long-term growth within the global tourism industry.
The delegation, which included Deputy CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Melnecia Marshall, and Chief Operations Officer of the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA), Calvin Duggins, engaged key partners across multiple destinations, beginning with a diaspora outreach in Birmingham. There, nationals of Saint Kitts and Nevis were updated on developments in the tourism sector and encouraged to play an active role as ambassadors for the destination.
The visit also saw the official United Kingdom launch of the “We Limin” campaign, building on its earlier rollouts in New York and Canada. The initiative continues to serve as a key platform for promoting the Federation’s unique tourism product while encouraging investment and engagement from nationals abroad.
In Italy, the delegation met with executives from Costa Cruises to explore opportunities for expanding cruise business, including homeporting arrangements and destination marketing. Discussions also highlighted the strong performance of Saint Kitts’ Port Zante, which is ranked among the top ports within the cruise line’s network.
“So essentially, the discussions we had there were based on relationship building. We focused on securing, of course, our long-term relevance and positioning Saint Kitts and Nevis to capture greater value from the industry as it continues to evolve, not just as being a port of call, but of course, for home porting opportunities,” said Minister Henderson.
Further engagements in Germany included meetings with AIDA Cruises, where similar strategic opportunities were explored to strengthen collaboration and expand the Federation’s presence within the European cruise market.
In addition to stakeholder meetings, the delegation undertook an aggressive media campaign across the UK, completing more than ten interviews with major media outlets to increase destination visibility and promote upcoming events.
“We promoted the destination. We promoted the events, including the Nevis to Saint Kitts cross-channel swim, and some of the media houses from the UK and Europe are here on island. We had about three of them, and one of them participated in the swim,” said the tourism minister. “So ultimately, the visit was to grow the long-term relationship with our partners and to make sure that we raise the visibility of the destination in the UK and Europe.”
Minister Henderson noted that early results from the visit are already being realised, with international media representatives visiting the Federation and participating in local events such as the cross-channel swim, helping to generate authentic, on-the-ground coverage of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
She also commended the delegation for their dedication and commitment, emphasising that such missions require significant sacrifice but are essential to advancing the country’s tourism agenda and creating opportunities for the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
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