The 2017-2018 cruise season is proving to be one of the most exciting for the local tourism industry, with 20 cruise calls expected here in seven days.
Cecil McKie, Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture made the disclosure this morning while speaking via telephone on the Shakeup program aired here on WEFM.
“This week, beginning from Sunday last we are going to have twenty (20) calls in seven days, McKie announced.
“So on Sunday we had three calls-Kingstown, Bequia, Mayreau; Monday we had a call to Mayreau; Tuesday we had two calls-Canouan and Tobago Cays. Today Wednesday, inaugural Celebrity Summit, we also have calls to Tobago Cays and Bequia. Tomorrow Thursday, another call to Kingstown and one at Bequia; Friday five calls to Bequia and one to Mayreau. On Saturday one to Kingstown and on Saturday we have two calls,” the Tourism Minister outlined.
Minister McKie said that during the period November 26 to December 2, 2017, there were twelve cruise calls in six days to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
He noted that for some of the upcoming weeks there will be cruise calls every day.
Minister McKie said the 2017-2018 cruise season is expected to be the best ever for this country, with 23 percent more cruise calls expected and an over 200 percent increase capacity that those calls will bring.
The Tourism Minister said the taxi men and other stakeholders are happy about this positive boom being seen for this cruise season.
According to Minister McKie, there is scheduled to be 114 cruise ship calls to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which is an increase of 133 percent over the last cruise season, when there were 48 cruise ship calls here.
Going forward, the Tourism Minister said his ministry will be looking to improve the Tourism statistics and opportunities within that sector.
He said they will also be seeking to use sports and culture as an opportunity to improve the local tourism product.
Minister McKie thanked the various stakeholders who contributed to the success of the tourism industry in 2017, but called on them to redouble their efforts in the upcoming year so as to ensure that the sector continues to grow.
“So it means therefore that we have to ensure that we stay at the top of our game so that next year the cruise season will be even bigger than it is this year,” Minister McKie said.
