In the News

By William Doyle-Marshall

Direct air service between Toronto and St. Kitts begins December 18 and will continue for 15 weeks into the Spring of next year – April 20. This was announced last Thursday by Senator Richard Skerritt, Minister of Tourism and International Travel for the twin island state in the Eastern Caribbean.
The minister was here to launch the effort which was five years in the making. He saw the new service as a very good starting or testing point. "If it does well it sets us up to expand it in the future so in that context its critical to our future with Canada," he said in an interview.
The new rotation cuts travel time to St. Kitts in half compared with what exists at the moment with passengers going through the United States of America. Instead of spending a day travelling, you spend a half a day, the Senator observed. "That makes a tremendous difference in the travel business because you get short vacations and you want to be able to get there and enjoy," he explained.
"Remember what you getting away from in the winter and what you going to. You are going to get some warm weather and some Caribbean hospitality so the more time you can get enjoying that, the better: the better value for the trip. So it suddenly makes Canada a real source market for us that we can build on, grow hopefully steadily over the coming years," Skerritt added.
Using his own travel schedule last week as an example, Senator Skerritt left St. Kitts at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon and eventually landed in Toronto at midnight. That was an 11-hour journey.
An excited Carolyn James, Canadian Director for the St. Kitts Tourism Authority said launching of the new service was the culmination of her 22 years tenure with the authority as she had constantly dreamed of having the opportunity to welcome Air Canada Vacations to her destination.
"Today is extra special for me and Brad (Richards, sales representative) for we had planned and planned for years. We have loved all the people we have worked with but we have always dreamed of this moment."
The new non-stop flight to St. Kitts is one of several the airline will be operating this winter. The others from Toronto are to Curacao and St. Thomas. There are also flights like Halifax to Turks & Caicos; Montreal to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and Ottawa to Holguin. Air Canada is inviting travellers to book an air, hotel and transfer package on its new flights by October 31 to receive free seat selection and access to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge or upgrade to executive class service for only $149 per person round trip.
Landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport in single digit temperature caused the Senator to conclude his timing was right because this is the time when consumers in cities like Toronto begin to think about the year-round warmth of the Caribbean. "Everywhere in the Caribbean we are waiting for you to choose us and for your clients to choose us again this year or for the first time this year," the Senator said.
"We are in fact an authentic and desirable Caribbean destination. For all the hard work that has gone on. St. Kitts and Nevis is a small product but with a tremendous future very excited about this as an important part of our future."
The Minister of Tourism likened his country to a small fighter who packs a big punch. "We punch above our weight as a destination and recently after I became Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization I also have to be seen as punching above my weight because when I speak in forums like this I speak not only on behalf of St. Kitts and Nevis but on behalf of the 33 members of the Caribbean Tourism Organization," he assured the luncheon gathering.
Writing in the country's official magazine – the Visitor – Zena Polin says "I know what you're thinking. Since you've arrived on St. Kitts you've swam in the Caribbean Sea, you've eaten a lobster or two and you've relaxed on the beach. Now you want to know, 'What else is there to do on an island that's only 69 square miles and has only 40,000 people?' Never fear! Not only does St. Kitts have more than 250 recorded historic sites, but everything from the waters surrounding the islands to the volcanoes in the centre of it provide fun, excitement and even, surprises."