Above: St Kitts (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

St Kitts and Nevis’ cruise tourism sector has grown by more than 400 percent in the last six years, according to a study by US-based Business Research and Economic Advisors.

Over that period, cruise tourism spending has grown by more than 10 fold, up to $70.6 million from $6.7 million.

Average per passenger expenditures have also doubled since 2006, while expenditures across the region have reportedly seen a 2 percent drop in the same period.

In the 2011/2012 cruise year, average per passenger spend in St Kitts was measured at $108.90, up from $57.40 in the 2006 cruise year.

Tourism Minister Richard Skerritt said the government work to spur local development in Basseterre had helped spur the increased numbers.

“The improvements in downtown Basseterre, the development of shops, restaurants and key attractions, and the increasing the number of certified taxi and tour operators in anticipation of demand growth, have clearly had a very positive impact on the experience that St Kitts offers to visitors,” he said in a release.