The Eastern Caribbean island of St. Kitts is currently one of the most popular vacation spots in the Caribbean, with new hotels, airlines and a thriving farm-to-table movement. It is also poised for a successful summer in the region’s highly competitive travel market.
JetBlue will begin offering year-round flights from New York in November, and the island has just unveiled plans for its first-ever flights with the airline.
This is the latest development in a successful year for the island, which was recently named Caribbean Destination of the Year and launched a new brand identity.
To put it another way, the island in question is one that combines lush tropical beauty, vibrant cultural vibrancy, and a commitment to sustainability.
“St. Kitts’ continuous growth in international connectivity is a testament to the strength and resilience of our island,” said Ellison “Tommy” Thompson, CEO of St. Kitts Tourism Authority. “Less than a year after reopening our borders to tourism, we have seen fantastic growth and a demand for the island indicative of a strong and plentiful future for the destination.”
This weekend, St. Kitts is gearing up for the St. Kitts Music Festival, the largest music festival in the Caribbean, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary with performances by musicians such as Chronixx, Dexta Daps and Gramps Morgan. (The festival will take place from June 22 to 24).
The Nevis Mango Festival, St. Kitts and Nevis Restaurant Week, Nevis Culturama and the Caribbean Premier League Cricket in late August are other events planned for this summer.
And traveling to the island in winter is becoming simpler.
United Airlines will continue to offer nonstop flights from Newark to St. Kitts through August before discontinuing them Dec. 2.
Regional carriers such as InterCaribbean, which has increased its capacity to St. Kitts from Barbados on a full-time basis, have also begun offering new flights to the island.
All of this represents a continuing effort for a place that has managed to place itself on the radar of tourists looking for a special kind of Caribbean island holiday.