Why St. Kitts and Nevis should be your next Caribbean vacation

Kelly Fontenelle, who was appointed CEO for St. Kitts Tourism Authority in July 2024, is eager to show off the destination to curious travellers who are looking for the ultimate Caribbean vacation.

“St. Kitts is one of those destinations that is very much understated; it’s not very well-known; a little bit more on the quiet side, however it’s a very vibrant destination,” said Fontenelle.

There are a suite of unique properties to discover on the island that meet the needs of various markets, including the five-star luxury hotel Belle Mont Farm, the 11-room Sunset Reef, the Marriott and the Park Hyatt.

St. Kitts is also greatly supported by the cruise industry, including from major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, whose Icon of the Seas was the first cruise ship to enter the island. However, Fontenelle is eager to encourage cruise visitors to consider extending their stays. “We want to make St. Kitts a year-round destination,” she said. “Eight hours is not enough.”

Things to see and do

Last year, St. Kitts celebrated the 25th anniversary of its music festival, held every year in June. “St. Kitts has a lot to offer when it comes to food,” Fontenelle said, noting that Restaurant Week is the perfect time to explore the island’s range of restaurants, from mom and pop shops to fine dining venues offering everything from poached lobster to grilled meats and vegan dishes. 

Wellness is the second largest market that the St. Kitts Tourism Authority is focusing on for 2025 and beyond.

Served by Air Canada with one direct flight per week, St. Kitts is experiencing a healthy increase in Canadian arrivals.

“We are hoping to build on that market to create the demand so Air Canada can see that there is a demand for St. Kitts,” Fontenelle said. Currently, all of St. Kitt’s hotel product can be booked with Air Canada Vacations, including activities and ground transfers, which are commissionable to agents.

Who should visit?

“St. Kitts is the perfect destination for solo travellers because there’s so much to experience on the island,” Fontenelle said. “I think if you’re a first time traveller to St. Kitts, you will only look for luxury after that. We have the beach, but we have so much culture and history, and Nevis is right next door,” she added, noting that St. Kitts’ sister island is a short six-minute ferry ride away.

“It’s a completely different experience,” Fontenelle said. “Coming to St. Kitts, you pay for one ticket, but you see two completely different islands.”

Travel agent education is front and centre for St. Kitts, especially with it being a high-end destination, so to speak. “A lot of people who want to book that kind of package want to talk with a travel agent,” Fontenelle said. The St. Kitts Tourism Authority currently has a series of travel agent training modules, including the St. Kitts Your Way campaign, which encourages travel advisors to visit the island and have a firsthand experience.

For more information, travel agents can click here.