President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Hotel and Tourism Association, Kim Halbich says as the island prepares to transition into the next stage of growth in the tourism sector, stakeholders will have to up their game in various ways from offering a higher standard of service to facilitating new technology.
Speaking at a State of Tourism 2024 conference, Halbich said there is a feeling of excitement in St Vincent and the Grenadines which is moving into the next stage of growth as the island welcomes to its shores major hotel brands and doubling of room stock. She said as a nation SVG must rise to meet this extra-large challenge that will change lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and the very way of life of Vincentians.
“We may have to catch more fish, plant more crops, expand our friends, upgrade vehicles, work late nights, and sometimes do a double shift.”
Halbich notes that as St Vincent and the Grenadines prepares to welcome year-round guests from various segments markets, everyone needs to up their game with higher service standards, more targeted training, enforcement of rules and regulations, quality assurance, providing overnight and 24-hour service, management and maintenance of all sites, time-safe public transportation which includes nights, Sundays and public holidays.
She also highlighted the need for the implementation of automated and electronic services, as Halbich says gone are the days when persons have to line up to buy a Revenue Stamp.
