Cruise arrivals in St. Kitts jumped by eight percent during the 2024-2025 peak season compared to the previous year, with 748,056 passengers arriving between October and April, according to Minister of Tourism Marsha Henderson.
Minister Henderson revealed the updated statistics during a press conference held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort on April 29, highlighting what she called “a healthy increase” over the 690,244 cruise visitors recorded the previous season.
“This growth is the result of the collective efforts among the Ministry of Tourism, the sister agencies, and the industry partners, all focused on enhancing the guest experience, improving our port facilities, and ensuring visitor satisfaction and safety,” said Henderson. “However, we recognise the true success in tourism is not only measured in numbers, but in the tangible impact on the lives of our citizens.”
Central to those tangible impacts is the Tour Development Programme, launched in August 2024, which aims to empower small business owners to craft distinctive tourism experiences. According to Henderson, 15 local companies are currently enrolled in the programme.
“I am proud to share that 15 companies are currently participating in the programme and we remain committed to their success,” she said.
The Ministry has also addressed a major roadblock for small tour operators by resolving long-standing insurance issues. With passenger coverage now secured, these operators are now able to market their tours directly to cruise lines—positioning them to compete more effectively with established operators.
Looking ahead, Henderson confirmed that executives from Royal Caribbean Group are scheduled to visit St. Kitts later this month to deepen their understanding of the island’s tourism offerings. Their visit follows an October 2024 engagement with representatives from Carnival Corporation.
