The planned improvements for the Kingstown Cruise Port are structured across a phased development program, representing an estimated total investment of $225 million to $250 million EC dollars.
Phase One involves an initial investment of up to $75 million EC dollars and focuses on immediate modernizations, including:
- Terminal Modernization: Upgrading and improving the existing cruise terminal facilities in Kingstown to deliver a world-class experience.
- Enhanced Spaces: Creating newly enhanced public and commercial spaces throughout the port.
- Infrastructure Upgrades: Implementing supporting infrastructure improvements across the entire port area.
- Shore Excursions: Strengthening shore excursion activities and the overall visitor experience to encourage tourists to repeatedly visit St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Phase Two will follow later to expand upon the first phase and includes:
- Marine and Berthing Infrastructure: Improving the physical marine infrastructure, which involves finishing initial berths and moving on to subsequent ones to increase traffic capacity.
- Accessibility Enhancements: Further improving accessibility for passengers in and around the port.
- Transportation and Parking: Completely reconfiguring the parking and transportation systems that serve the cruise port areas.
- Future Growth Investments: Making additional broad investments to handle increased passenger traffic and support the long-term growth of the cruise tourism sector.
Additionally, the development plans prioritize local economic integration by constructing small, affordable commercial spaces and stalls. Modeled after successful implementations in the Bahamas, these spaces are designed to allow local vendors, artists, and small business operators to sell their goods to cruise passengers without being burdened by exorbitant rental costs.