Caesar – SVG’s holding its own in the tourism sector

St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is said to be holding its own in the tourism sector.{{more}}

In a press briefing held on Monday, October 11, Minister of Tourism Saboto Caesar disclosed that “there is a bright future in the short to medium term for Tourism in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Speaking from his office at the Ministry of Tourism in the National Insurance Services building, Caesar disclosed that over the past few months, he has been investigating what is going on economically in the top 100 cities in the United States of America and Europe.

He revealed that his findings show that there is great unemployment among persons who were once potential visitors to the Caribbean, including SVG.

“America is seeking and creating new ways to rebound their economy and those are the local problems they have to grapple with in the United States of America.

“When I turn now to Europe, we know of the financial problems taking place in the Euro-zone and that is definitely going to have a significant impact on the persons who want to travel…” Caesar stated.

According to the Minster, those are some of the reasons why the country’s visitor arrivals have fallen in recent times.

“However, while that is so, we in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Ministry of Tourism and the government, we have to ensure that we put the requisite infrastructure and frameworks in place so that when these traditional source markets would have recovered, that we are first to take advantage of the recovery process,” he added.

Caesar also encouraged persons working in the sector to lift their standards because of the competitiveness of the tourism industry globally.

“Our standards are going to be extremely important, because on many occasions, persons who visit the sites will remember them; but what they will remember most is the hospitality and the way they would have been treated…” the Tourism Minister pointed out.

He further pointed out that based on his assessment locally, slight progress is taking place the industry.

“There will be a major opening in Petit St. Vincent before the end of November. The rooms there are refurbished and the occupancy intake will be up because they have built several more rooms.

“I was in contact with Palm Island up to two days ago and they have noted that the season is looking excellent. On Mayreau there is construction going on there. There is also construction going on in Canouan and Bequia,” Caesar revealed.

According to the Tourism Minister, these ongoing projects will increase the room stock in the Grenadines.

With regard to the Buccament Bay Resort, “they are doing extremely well,” he said.

It was also disclosed by Caesar that during his visit to Puerto Rico a few weeks ago for the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Caribbean Cruise Conference, someone handed him a magazine The Financial Times, which had a feature on St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“So St. Vincent and the Grenadines is holding its own,” the Tourism Minister said.(AA)