St Kitts and Nevis is opening the door and strengthening its ties with its diaspora back to the islands. The “We Limin” program includes exclusive travel perks and discounts, special cultural experiences and the opportunity for generations of Kittians in Britain to reconnect with their roots.
“We want people in the UK diaspora to come home. We want them to feel proud of their heritage, explore the islands and reconnect with their heritage,” says Honourable Marsha T. Henderson, Minister of Tourism for St. Kitts and Nevis. The program will not only celebrate identity and heritage. It will also create new investment opportunities in the islands and long-term collaborations. “Our diaspora represents one of our most important and resilient markets. It is an essential part of the future of tourism in St. Kitts,” says Melnecia Marshall, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. Members of the British-Kittian diaspora include footballers Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford and Mel B. Last year, Palmer visited the islands with his father, almost six decades after his grandfather moved to the UK.
To become a year-round holiday destination for travellers, the program is also offering curated travel packages tied to summer festivals and the Carnival in December. The upcoming St Kitts Music Festival will be a “celebration of icons, where music meets paradise,” says Marshall.
Travellers can expect to hear live music from Beres Hammond, Fantasia, Kehlani, and local acts. The festival is already proving popular with several VIP packages selling out since January, Henderson added.
“As an island, we offer it all — hiking, historical sites, eco adventures and our wonderful beaches. On top of that, our restaurant month in July will be a foodies dream,” Henderson adds that she is excited to see the range of homegrown talents that take on the challenge of creating dishes that highlight local ingredients such as sorrel, soursop, green banana and squash. Activities include a Taste at Twilight meal, where participants eat under the stars in a farm-to-table setting to celebrate how Kittians of the past shared meals.
The popular SKN Jet Home Challenge is also set to launch soon. This fun competition encourages people in the diaspora to gather their friends and family for a group trip to St Kitts. The person with the biggest group will win exclusive VIP tickets to events such as the Sugar Mas Carnival in December, as well as a cultural welcome from the Minister of Tourism and a troupe of traditional Kittian dancers. Henderson says, “Tell us when you’re coming, who you’re coming with and your plans. We want to hear it all.”
As the initiative rolls out, the message is clear for Kittians in the UK: the door is wide open to new opportunities to engage with and experience the best of St Kitts and Nevis.
