ST. KITTS’ MINISTRY OF TOURISM INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO HALT THE SALE OF COUNTERFEIT GOODS TO VISITORS AND LOCALS AT ENTRY PORTS

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, April 30, 2024 (SKNIS) – In an effort to maintain the authenticity of the Kittitian experience and to further protect the reputation of St. Kitts and Nevis as a premier tourist destination, the Ministry of Tourism is pursuing new policy initiatives aimed at eliminating the sale of counterfeit merchandise at the ports of entry.

Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Marsha Henderson, during the ministry’s press conference on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, said that the new policy initiatives will target merchandise such as counterfeit jewellery, alcohol and fabric.

“It is imperative to uphold the standards of our local products and protect the integrity of the tourism industry,” Minister Henderson stated.

The minister emphasised that selling and distributing counterfeit merchandise deceives the Federation’s valued visitors and could potentially damage the reputation of the destination.

She added, “The Ministry of Tourism is taking decisive action to address this issue head-on and raise the standards at our ports.”

Minister Henderson highlighted that legislation already exists to address this issue, but noted that her ministry will be working closely with the Office of the Attorney-General to implement stricter laws and regulations to combat and eliminate the sale of counterfeit products.

“The support of the Attorney-General’s Office is crucial in ensuring that these measures are effectively enforced and violators are held accountable,” she said.  

Minister Henderson reaffirmed that the Ministry of Tourism values the collaboration and cooperation of merchants operating at Port Zante and at the RLB International Airport in their efforts to combat the sale of fake merchandise, adding that, “By working together we can ensure that our ports offer only genuine, highly quality products to visitors and locals.”

“I am confident that with the implementation of this new policy and the support of all of the stakeholders involved, we can significantly reduce the prevalence of counterfeit goods at our ports,” Minister Henderson said, while noting that this will lead to an enhanced experience for visitors.

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