by Brian Major
Last updated: 3:30 PM ET, Fri October 31, 2014
Nevis is not only one of the Caribbean's smallest islands, but it even exists within the shadow of its island twin, St. Kitts. Together the two-island nation comprises the Americas' smallest sovereign state in terms of both area and population. The 36 square-mile island is home to a mere 12,000 residents.
But Nevis' tiny environs offer exclusivity, something increasingly hard to come by in Caribbean destinations. The island has emerged as an intimate luxury enclave featuring four- and five-star resorts, along with secluded villas and guesthouses featuring lush natural surroundings and an abundance of beautiful, intimate beaches. We spoke recently with Mark Brantley, Nevis' deputy premier, to ask what lies in the country's tourism future.
TravelPulse: How does Nevis differ from St. Kitts in terms of the tourist experience?
Mark Brantley: We like to refer to St. Kitts and Nevis as 'two islands, one paradise.' It's really the ying and yang of the tourism industry. We're only two miles apart at our closest point, but Nevis tends to be more luxury-based, more niche, very high end and more expensive and far more exclusive. St. Kitts I think offers a product that is more accessible in terms of budget. They have more cruise ships and more mass tourism than we do on Nevis.
As a consequence of that you really get, as I said, a ying and yang between the two. St. Kitts has the partying, the casinos, the fast food and Nevis is more laid back, quiet, ultra-luxurious and focused on spas, it's a different lifestyle. We like to say 'When you make a success in New York, you come to Nevis.' I think the two islands complement each other, especially now because there is a water taxi that runs between both, so people can really enjoy themselves.
TP: Has this been a successful year for the country in terms of tourism revenue and visitor arrivals?
MB: While I am responsible for tourism in Nevis, I have a colleague in St. Kitts who has responsibility over there. I have not seen the numbers for St. Kitts but our numbers are very good. It terms of our revenue from 2012 through now we are up 18 percent. In terms of our traffic at our local airport we are up 14 percent over last year. The numbers are encouraging; I think they are trending in the right direction. Our job now is promotion and creating awareness. Many Americans don't know that Nevis is the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, the man who was the first U.S. secretary of the treasury, the man whose face is on the ten dollar bill. I like to say he is our gift to America. We'd like Americans to come down and see his birthplace.
TP: Caribbean destinations are always seeking ways to increase airlift and links. How would you describe air transportation into Nevis?
MB: We have a state-of-the-art airport facility but we only cater to smaller regional carriers and private jets. St. Kitts has an international airport that receives long-haul flights from New York, London, Miami and North Carolina. Infrastructure is expensive and of course these are small islands. I'll be very candid. I think, however, that in terms of Nevis and the fact that we are not seeing direct flights from cities like New York or London, that cannot be a bad thing. I like to say that if it were easy to get here everybody would look to get here.
Now that said, people can come in from San Juan. We recently added more than 100 per day from San Juan to Nevis and people can fly aboard Seaborne Airlines, Cape Air, Tradewinds Airlines, all flying from Puerto Rico. They can fly into St. Maarten, or they can fly into St. Kitts and take a water taxi.
But however they get here the idea is when people make the effort to come to Nevis, however they get here they have an experience that's memorable. There is something to be about the exclusivity that we market and the niche that we occupy that people make an effort to come.
TP: What is the profile of the traveler to Nevis?
MB: We have properties that appeal to a worldwide audience in terms of luxury and the niche that we occupy. We still get people largely from the East Coast of the United States, and the profile is largely someone with strong disposable income. It's not cheap. There are budget vacation options available, but with an island so skewed toward the luxury market, it does require someone with the disposable income to enjoy a luxury type of holiday. So we get a lot of celebrities, a lot of CEOs of major corporations and some U.S. presidents. I think they come and they keep coming back because they appreciate what we offer. They want an understated luxury and elegance so they can truly relax. They're not harassed by paparazzi, and the people are genuinely warm and welcoming.
TP: What are some of the historic and cultural attractions found in Nevis?
MB: Historically, Nevis had the very first hotel in the Caribbean. The Bath hotel is still standing. The structure is now used for government offices. It was built around the Bath Stream, the naturally occurring hot springs in Nevis, which is still in use and is reputed to have therapeutic value. We're told royalty used to come from Europe to take a bath there, and it was reputed to cure scurvy, arthritis and the like. A lot of local people still use it, and The Bath still is a major attraction for the island.
The island is so small that you can't help but experience Nevisian culture. We are absolutely opposed to the concept of all-inclusive resorts where guests are secluded behind the walls. When you come to Nevis, we encourage people to go out and experience the island. If you are someone who wants to interact with the locals and local people and culture, it's almost impossible not to do that.
People go out on bikes, they go out on horseback, on ATVs and in rented cars. Most hotels have dine-around programs that encourage travelers to try the island's restaurants. However, because of the nature of the island you can get away from it all. There are plantation inns that don't even have televisions.
TP: What sort of beach experience does Nevis feature?
MB: Because we don't encourage mass tourism we don't have thousands of people descending on the beaches. It's not unusual for visitors to be on beaches by themselves. It's really a different experience. And out beach experience includes deep-sea fishing and scuba diving so it's all there. Whether it's on the land, under the water in the water, on the land or in the air Nevis has something to offer.
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