The Ministry of Tourism has announced the opening of the Cruise Ship Season for 2009-2010. To date this year’s cruise chip arrivals list shows a total of one hundred and seventy four (174) calls to the destination to be made between October 2009 and April 2010.{{more}}

The season, which should have begun last Saturday, October 10, 2009, will instead make its official start on Sunday, October 18, 2009.

So far the schedule shows two inaugural calls to be made during the period: Albatross of Club Cruises and Azamara Journey of Azamara Cruises. They are both expected to call in Bequia on Sunday, January 3, 2010, and Thursday, February 18, 2010, respectively.

Meanwhile, as the country prepares for this year’s cruise ship season, the Ministry of Tourism convened its annual Cruise stakeholders meeting on September 16, 2009. The meeting was held to discuss issues facing the sector with a view to preparing for the new season. Minister of Tourism Glen Beache also met with other stakeholders such as members of the Police Service, Public Health and the Coastguard. Recently on October 6, 2009, an H1N1 sensitization meeting for Tour Operators and Tourism Information Officers was also held in preparation for the season.