The tourism authority will host five fam trips throughout the year, two of which took place in April and May, with the remaining three fixed for July, October and November, giving trade partners a chance to sample the island’s food, culture and activities.

To ramp up its business relations with the UK travel trade, the St Kitts Tourism Authority has launched a marketing campaign with Travel Counsellors, which will focus on educating agents about the destination’s offerings.

The island’s tourism board has also organised a "Lunch and Learn" programme in partnership with neighbouring Nevis, to help small groups of homeworkers expand their knowledge of the two islands.

“As one of the smaller Caribbean islands, the trade is vitally important to St Kitts in driving tourism and, with our twice-weekly, year-round British Airways flight from Gatwick, the UK is a significant market,” said chief executive Ellison Thompson on Tuesday (20 June).

According to Thompson, the board’s strategy has already paid off with monthly arrivals from the UK over the past half-year running at or above 2019 levels.