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BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): Tourism stands to benefit from a
mutual agreement that will allow Europeans and nationals of St
Kitts and Nevis and three other Caribbean countries to travel
hassle-free or without the need for visas.
One European website sees the arrangement between St Kitts and
Nevis, Barbados, the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda as helping
Europeans to “escape to the sunny Caribbean with visa-free
travel to exotic beaches.”
The European Commission said Thursday it expected member states
to approve by the end of March the abolition of short-term visas
to four Caribbean destinations - Antigua and Barbuda, The
Bahamas, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Barbados - and Mauritius and
Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean.
7th Space Interactive quotes Vice-President Jacques Barrot,
European Commissioner responsible for Justice, Liberty and
Security, as saying: “Sometimes Europe is unfairly named
'Fortress Europe'.”
“Today, I have the pleasure of announcing the launch of the
procedure to ratify agreements which will facilitate travel
between the EU Member States and Antigua and Barbuda, The
Bahamas, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Mauritius, Barbados and
Seychelles. This is great news for nationals of these countries
and EU citizens who will soon be able to travel to these
countries without requiring short stay visas.”
The agreements provide for visa-free travel for the citizens of
the European Union and for the citizens of the six countries –
holders of all passports (diplomatic, service and ordinary) –
between their territories for stays not exceeding three months.
The agreements cover all category of travellers, except for the
category of persons travelling for the purpose of carrying out a
paid activity, for which each Member State and also the six
countries remain free to impose the visa requirement in
accordance with the applicable Community or national law.
The Agreement was signed on behalf of St Kitts and Nevis by the
Federation’s London-based High Commissioner to the United
Kingdom, James E Williams in November last year at the
headquarters of the Directorate General, Justice Freedom and
Security, in Brussels, Germany.
According to the terms of the agreement, anyone who carries a
valid St Kitts and Nevis passport (normal, diplomatic, official
etc.) will be able to travel to any Schengen country without
needing a visa. Holders of valid passports from the EU countries
concerned will likewise be able to travel to the Federation
without needing a visa. While it covers France and the
Netherlands, it does not cover their dependent territories.
Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain
and Sweden.
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Norwegian Cruise
Line to boost cruise tourism in St Kitts
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Thursday,
February 12, 2009/
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BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): A major boost to the
cruise industry in St Kitts came with the announcement
that one of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)’s ships has
included Port Zante on its itinerary for the 2010/2011
cruise ship season.
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Norwegian Dawn |
The 2,224-passenger
Norwegian Dawn will sail alternating five-day Western
Caribbean and nine-day Southern Caribbean cruises from
Nov. 14, 2010 through April 22, 2011.
Ports of call on the Norwegian Dawn’s Southern Caribbean
itinerary include Samaná, Dominican Republic; Tortola,
British Virgin Islands; St John’s, Antigua; Bridgetown,
Barbados and Basseterre, St. Kitts.
The 91,740 ton cruise line was put into service in 2002
and has 11 passenger decks and 1,112 cabins. |
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