NEW YORK, April 7, CMC – St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Cecil “Ces” McKie believes the tourism sector will get a significant boost once work is completed on the Argyle International Airport.
McKie, on a stop-over in New York from Taiwan, told the Caribbean Media Corporation that the ministry anticipates between 190,000 and 250,000 tourist arrivals by air annually within the first two years of the airport’s completion.
Currently, the country gets, on average, 80,000 visitors annually via air transportation, he said.
Despite the need for more funds to complete the largest capital project in the nation’s history, Mc Kie said construction is “progressing on schedule,” with the terminal building expected to be completed by the end of the year and “the strip and other amenities will be completed early next year the latest.”
“I am very confident that will be realized,” said the tourism minister, referring to the US$80 million still needed.
He said nationals in the Diaspora are noticeably “more excited and more vocal than those at home” about the international airport, primarily because “people outside are more familiar with the hassles of getting home.
As construction of the international airport progresses, McKie noted that even opposition legislators are now support the project.
“We’re beginning to see a difference, whereas, the opposition was playing politics, there are clear and visible signs (of support),” he said.
At a town hall meeting in Brooklyn, NY, last month, Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace expressed concern about construction of the airport satisfying international standards.
But Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has assured VIncentians that international standards are being maintained according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines.
