Nevis will be challenged to maintain its intimate and exclusive character as the islands seeks to realize multiple economic benefits from the upcoming development of energy-producing geothermal sites, said Mark Brantley, Nevis’ deputy premier and minister of tourism, at a gathering with press Wednesday in New York City..

“The island is sitting on a very viable geothermal energy resource and we have hired a developer,” said Brantley. “The energy is clean, cheap and completely renewable. We are the first island in the Caribbean to harness this technology, which will be available in about three years.”  

Brantley says the energy source is sufficient to supply not only all of Nevis’ power requirements but may position the island to become an energy exporter to regional Caribbean islands.

Maintaining Nevis’ small-scale character as the island pursues commercial geothermal production will loom as its biggest challenge, according to Brantley, who said Nevis represents the “old time Caribbean” of intimate properties set on quiet, pristine beaches that cater to upscale travelers.

Nevis regulations bar fast-food restaurants and buildings taller than two stories and there are no traffic lights on the island. Combined, Nevis and sister island St. Kitts this year hosted 56,494 overnight visitors between January and June.

The Dominican Republic and Jamaica, both with a wide array of large resorts, each hosted more than one million visitors during the same period. The majority of visitors are from the U.S. east coast, Brantley said.

The country will continue to maintain a tight rein on its character as an exclusive vacation destination even as it pursues commercial energy production.

“We are strict in terms of what we allow,” said Brantley. “Developers are always pushing us for taller buildings.”

The island recently turned down an opportunity to open the first Subway fast food restaurant, he said.

The intention is to maintain outstanding natural attractions including colorful natural reefs, lush rainforests and pristine beaches. Nevis is home to ruins of old sugar plantations, historic Amerindian sites, and multiple wreck and reef scuba diving opportunities.

“We focus on the [visitor] spend more than the numbers,” said Brantley. “We only have about 420 hotel rooms on Nevis, but that includes the only Four Seasons resort in the Caribbean.”

Brantley said that Nevis air links are solid, with new service from Tradewinds Aviation set to launch Dec. 15. American Airlines also offers twice-weekly flights to St. Kitts, from which travelers can take a short ferry to Nevis. Delta and U.S. Airways offer weekly service to St. Kitts from Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C., respectively.