by Eulana Weekes
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The St. Kitts Music Festival is considered to be a significant driver of tourism activity in the Federation during the summer months and Ellison “Tommy” Thompson, CEO at the St.Kitts Tourism Authority, said the support thus far from regional and international travel and media partners have been tremendous.
During the Monday, June 19 Music Festival Press Conference, Thompson shared the impact that the Music Festival has made on regional and international travel.
“This is a really exciting time for us in St.Kitts, especially the Tourism Authority. It gives us something to really market during the summer months which are traditionally kind of slow. We are very, very happy at the fact that American Airlines has put on additional flights on the 21st and the 25th and this is actually, the first international festival that they have actually done this for. Anytime they’ve done it, it’s been for domestic festivals in the United States so, “St. Kitts again, a home run for us.”
“We’ve got additional airlift within the Caribbean as well, they are putting on additional flights for us and they’ve been telling us they’re full and in fact, the Makana, they’re also full as well. So, it’s going to be a great event for regional travel.”
Makana Ferry Services on Tuesday morning, June 20, 2023 shared to the public their decision to supply additional trips to accommodate interested patrons to the St.Kitts Music Festival from St.Eustatius, Saba and St. Maarten.
In particular, a partnership between Sackville Travel in the U.K ensured that people who wanted to book a package with the tickets would be able to do so, Thompson disclosed.
Meanwhile, media houses across the Caribbean and Europe are partnering with the local tourism body and making arrangements to cover the Music Festival. Thompson said, in the U.K, Soca News have been running a series of articles over the course of the year since the hosting of the last music festival. Following a competition, Soca News gave out 40 Music Festival tickets, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Independence in St.Kitts and Nevis. The partnership, according to Thompson, also allowed individuals an opportunity to book their flights to witness the event.
St. Kitts Music Festival makes up the list of “Summer Fun Activities” that the St.Kitts-Nevis Ministry of Tourism is promoting, in the aim of marketing the destination and gradually shifting the Federation from a seasonal destination to a year-round destination.
