Cruise calls to St. Vincent and the Grenadines are expected to climb from about 250 to more than 350 in the coming season as the government steps up efforts to improve the visitor experience and spread tourism’s economic benefits across the country.
Minister of Tourism Kishore Shallow said on Thursday that the increase reflects growing confidence in the destination.
He pointed to eight new cruise ships joining the schedule and said the additional calls could mean more business for taxi and tour operators, vendors, craftspeople and restaurants.
The goal, he said, is for tourism to put money in the pockets of Vincentians. Shallow stressed that local people and businesses all have a role in building a strong national brand that can compete internationally.
A key part of that effort is the Kingstown Enhancement Project (KEP), which is focused on improving the first impression visitors get when they arrive from cruise ships.
Shallow described work with businesses and other stakeholders in Kingstown.
The improvements under discussion include cleaning up and painting public areas, addressing infrastructure needs, and making practical information easier for visitors to find, such as directions to an ATM, clinic or pharmacy.
The minister also praised the murals appearing around Kingstown and said the project would be developed in stages.
Shallow said KEP is part of the wider Love SVG initiative, under which more than 100 projects have been identified to improve experiences around the country.
Those plans include developing waterfalls and launching a new online platform. He argued that promoting the destination must go hand in hand with improving it: visitors should receive an experience that meets — and exceeds — the expectations created by marketing.
On concerns about crime and how it could affect tourism, Shallow said he would not accept the characterisation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as unsafe.
He acknowledged that no country is without incidents, but described SVG as an extremely safe and hospitable destination and said the government is working with stakeholders, including the police, to keep residents and visitors safe.
The minister also pointed to restructuring at the ministry and the Tourism Authority as part of the push to keep pace with a fast-changing, competitive global tourism industry.
He said the changes are intended to strengthen skills, improve accountability and produce measurable results, adding that Tourism Authority CEO Shafia London and her team have been meeting with industry stakeholders.
Looking further ahead, Shallow said the arrival of Global Ports Holding to manage the cruise terminal could support further growth.
SVG currently averages about 250,000 cruise passengers, he said, and the government hopes to double that to 500,000 within three to five years, a prospect Shallow framed as an opportunity for local businesses and workers throughout the tourism sector.