By R. Wilson From St Kitts & Nevis Observer

The cruise sector of the Caribbean tourism industry continues to grow, according to recent statistics.

Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Chairman Beverly Nicholson-Doty announced Monday (Feb 10) that nearly 22 million cruise passenger visited the region in 2013.

“Overall, there was a two-and-three-quarter per cent rise…Our numbers suggest that the summer months of 2013 were the best ever for summer cruising in the Caribbean,” she said.

Cruise arrivals fluctuated from one island to the next, she explained, with Grenada recording an almost 22% decrease in passenger visits, compared to Curaçao which welcomed more than a 45% increase over 2012.

“Twice as many destinations recorded increased activity when compared to 2012, however destinations farthest from the US continued to struggle to boost arrivals,” said Nicholson-Doty.

St. Kitts is one such island showing impressive gains in the sector. An estimated 600,000 cruise passengers visited its shores in the 2012/2013 season and Tourism officials predict more than 750,000 will visit during the 2013/2014 season. Construction of a second $31million cruise pier is scheduled to begin soon.

The CTO Chairman informed that following a meeting with cruise executives last month, the parties agreed to work more closely together to ensure the destinations and the cruise companies gain the maximum benefit from the relationship.

“The cruise industry is an integral part of the region and we want to ensure we in the Caribbean have the opportunity and access to provide our quality products and services for our cruise partners as well as for the thousands of visitors they carry to our shores,” she said.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/2014/02/14/cruise-visit.html