From new hotels to new flights to a booming farm-to-table movement, the Eastern Caribbean island of St Kitts is one of the buzziest getaways in the Caribbean right now, poised for a strong summer amid a very competitive Caribbean market.
The island just announced plans for its first-ever flights on JetBlue, which will begin year-round service from New York beginning in November.
It’s the latest step for what has been a banner year for the island, fresh off its crown as Caribbean Destination of the Year back in January and the launch of a new brand identity.
In other words, the spotlight is on an island with a unique blend of lush tropical beauty, dynamic cultural energy and a strong focus on 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 readies for the Caribbean’s premier music event, the St Kitts Music Festival, which is marking its 25th anniversary this year with an event featuring music stars like Chronixx, Dexta Daps, Gramps Morgan. (That runs rom June 22-24).
Further events on the agenda this summer include the Nevis Mango Festival, St Kitts and Nevis Restaurant Week, Nevis Culturama and Caribbean Premier League Cricket at the end of August.
And it’s getting even easier to visit the island for the winter.
St Kitts will also see continued service from United Airlines, with nonstop flights from Newark through August before continuing on Dec. 2.
The island has also secured new service from regional carriers like InterCaribbean, which has expanded its capacity to St Kitts from Barbados on a full-time basis.
That all adds up to a continued push for a destination that has pushed itself onto the radar of travelers starved for a different kind of Caribbean island vacation.