BASSETERRE — Air Canada is back in St. Kitts and will offer weekly flights every Sunday through April 24, 2022 with Air Canada Rouge.

The full flight of vaccinated visitors touched down this past Sunday, marking the first time the airline has visited the destination in over a year.

“Canadian visitors seeking a destination that recognizes health and safety comes first and yet also appreciates they want and deserve a relaxing getaway, will find this and more in St. Kitts,” says Racquel Brown, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. “We look forward to welcoming back our Canadian visitors over the coming months, who will enjoy our quintessential Caribbean experience that truly engages their senses on every level.”

As reported on Travelweek.ca in September 2021, Brown has made it clear that the Canadian market is a key market for St. Kitts. “Canadians are such a priority for us,” she said in that earlier interview. “Canadians tend to be more adventurous than Americans. They stay a week and they like to go out and see the destination, do a day trip to Nevis and see different attractions and sites. When Canadians come, they’re not just staying at the hotel – they’re spending outside of the hotel, too. So you can actually see this economic benefit trickling down, which is so important for tourism.”

St. Kitts has also seen record cruise tourism, with a steady stream of ship arrivals including a record 21 ships visiting across the island’s four ports last week.

Earlier this month, the destination announced that fully vaccinated international travellers (age 12 and older) arriving into the Federation are no longer required to test upon arrival or Vacation in Place (quarantine) for 24 hours, adding to the ease in travelling direct on the weekly flight departing Toronto via Air Canada.

The destination’s strong tourism protocols, which include a phased approach to tourism recovery and a Travel Approved Certification program for taxis/tours, attractions, excursions, restaurants, bars and vendors, coupled with a population that have strongly embraced vaccination (currently 75% are fully vaccinated), has enabled St. Kitts to confidently reopen to tourism, says Brown.

Currently only vaccinated travellers may visit St. Kitts and Nevis with all travellers required to submit a negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel to the destination. Exemptions are in place for Citizens and Residents of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and also for children 11 and under who are accompanying their fully vaccinated parents or guardians.

Agents and clients can regularly check the websites for the St. Kitts Tourism Authority (www.stkittstourism.kn) and Nevis Tourism Authority (www.nevisisland.com).