St. Kitts and Nevis moves closer to its eventual reopening to international tourists
Federation prepares its tourism sector for influx of visits amid COVID-19
According to the World Health Organisation, St. Kitts and Nevis has not recorded any deaths since it had its first case on March 26. It has also been COVID-19 free since the 17th patient was cured from the virus.
The small Caribbean country has been virtually cleared from the clutches of the pandemic for 25 days now, and the Federation is dead serious about keeping it at that. Yet the restrictions are not without certain repercussions, especially with the economy.
The latest Emergency Powers Regulations imposing restrictions on regular international travel expire this Saturday, August 8, 2020.
Following this, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis recently conducted a dialogue with the members of the private sector on matters pertaining to COVID-19 and the local economy.
“We are attempting to meander the delicate pathways of a health crisis and a global economic crisis,” said Prime Timothy Minister Harris, hoping that the dialogue will enable the country to move closer to its borders’ eventual reopening to international and regional tourists. “We don’t think we have all the answers and so we welcome these kinds of dialogue in a sincere effort at partnership in a constructive way for national building.”
Contract-Tracing App Launched
As the Federation prepares for its reopening, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis is running a training programme for the hospitality industry until August 27th. This prepares tourism workers for the long-awaited arrival of visitors following strict health and safety protocols.
The government will also launch a track and trace mobile app, mandatory for all visitors. Using geo-fencing technology, the app will alert users when certain devices enter set boundaries. It will also provide tourists with health updates, including new arrivals into St. Kitts and Nevis.
“The app will facilitate contact tracing and facilitate the management of suspected cases through real-time feedback,” Prime Minister Dr the Hon. Timothy Harris first announced last week on the Leadership Matters programme. “All visitors will be asked to comply with our protocols and to obey our Emergency Powers Regulations,” he continued.
Citizenship by Investment Programme as a Safety Net
Until tourism resumes, St. Kitts and Nevis will continue to rely on its long-standing Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme to aid its struggling economy.
To encourage more foreign investment, the government announced a limited-time offer under the CBI Programme. It allows families of up to four to obtain second citizenship for a US$150,000 contribution to the Sustainable Growth Fund.
In an earlier interview with the Business Insider, CBI program head Les Khan expects that the revenue from the citizenship programme, which accounts for 30% of the GDP gap in the government’s budget, could be much higher this year.
“Now that tourism is at a standstill,” Khan said. “We expect that the CBI program will be a main driver for the next six months.”