BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOLLOWING the protest action taken by taxi and tour operators over a new measure that was implemented several months ago, the Ministry of Tourism/Tourism Authority has responded to their plea.
The issue behind the protest, according to many taxi and tour operators, is that the area within which open-air Safari tour operators have been placed at Port Zante has disadvantaged them in getting tourists to ply their trade.
During a press conference on Tuesday (May 16), the taxi and tour operators explained that in most cases open-air Safari tour operators are guaranteed US$400 for every trip they make, despite not taking tourists to some of the areas that the smaller vehicles normally visit, including the world renowned Brimstone Hill Fortress.
Speaking with reporters, Sylvester Hodge said that after a petition was sent to the Ministry of Tourism, a meeting was held with Tourism Minister Hon. Lindsay Grant and it was agreed that they would cap the number of tourists that the open-air Safari tour operators are allowed to take onboard their larger vehicles.
“If their capacity was 30, they would take it back to 16. Sixteen persons at US$25 a-head is US$400 every time they move. Currently, they are 33 in number and we are over 300.”
Given the high number of taxi and tour operators in the system, Hodge noted that it would take them approximately three weeks for every operator to rotate, while the open-air Safari personnel turn out every other day.
In a statement, the Tourism Authority noted that they, along with the Ministry of Tourism, continue to work with all stakeholders to grow the cruise sector, “and, of course, improve the quality of the guest experience on our lovely island”.
According to the statement, the Tourism Authority is a partnership that they value with the intention of ensuring “everyone has an equal opportunity to make a livelihood from operating within the sector”.
The Tourism Authority noted that the intention of implementing the new measure is to create a system that provides an equal opportunity for everyone to make money.
The Authority has however denied the allegation of them being favourable towards the open-air Safari tour operators.
“The criticism that we favour the open-air safari operators over the taxi operators is inaccurate,” the statement said.
The Tourism Authority provided some statistical information to confirm that statement and noted that the taxi and tour operators were engaged in more business on Port Zante than the open-air Safari operators.
“This year from the 14th to the 28th February, 3,961 cruise passengers were dispatched to taxis, compared to only 243 cruise passengers, who were dispatched to open air safaris. From the 1st to the 13th of March, 4,019 visitors were dispatched to taxis, while only 592 visitors were dispatched to open air safaris. Also, from the 14th to the 31st March, 5,542 visitors were dispatched to taxis, while 1,220 visitors were dispatched to open air safaris.
“In total, 13,522 cruise visitors were dispatched to 1,799 taxis, while on the other hand a total of 2,055 cruise visitors were dispatched 155 open air safaris.
“Yes, we do have challenges, however the Ministry of Tourism and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority are working, with close consultation with stakeholders to improve the system. It is a work in progress, and for the system to progress we must listen to each other, and work together to improve on the way we do business.”
The statement also confirmed that some taxi and tour operators had raised concerns over the new dispatch system.
“In February of this year the St. Kitts Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism – in collaboration with taxi and tour operators – implemented a new dispatching system to improve operations on Port Zante. This new system was not intended to be permanent, but a work in progress, to streamline the dispatching of visitors to taxi and tour operators, including those operating open air safaris.
“A few taxi operators have publicly raised concerns regarding this system. Those concerns are being addressed, and some have even been resolved to facilitate the development of an even more prosperous tourism cruise sector.”
