I grew up at a time when sugar was the main economic driver for St. Kitts.  At age 15, while still confused about what direction I wanted my life to take, I attended a Tourism Fair facilitated by the Ministry of Tourism. Here, I was exposed to the prospects, opportunities and benefits associated with working in the industry. It was then I decided this was where I wanted to be.

I began my career in 1998 with the Ministry/Tourism Authority as a destination marketing officer. I later transitioned to the hotel industry where I worked in several capacities, before ultimately moving to the manufacturing, historic, tours and sales sector of Tourism.

For the past 23 years, Tourism has provided me with a career that I love. As the General Manager for Romney Manor, home of Caribelle Batik, every day is a new challenge, for nothing remains the same.  Though we do have repeat customers, working within a niche market as unique as the cruise industry, we encounter hundreds of different individuals on a daily basis.

Most guests are only with us for a maximum of thirty minutes and though the time is limited, I have managed to foster many long-term relationships that have grown to benefit our company and the island as a whole. This for me is the most rewarding aspect of my job.

When the COVID-19 pandemic finally impacted the island, I remembered thinking it would all be gone by August of that year.

As we brainstorm to create new ways of generating income during this period, 95% of our employees to date still remains at home. We must innovate the business if we are to survive and make it to the end of this pandemic. Tourism is my life, and I look forward to the day when we can return to some level of normality, where a 14-day quarantine period, would no longer be required for travel and the borders could be truly open without restrictions. I pray that one day soon, we can all be back at work as the Caribelle Batik family.

Though it may seem simple, I have always been fascinated with cruise ships and became an avid cruiser myself in 2003. My children were also exposed to cruising at age 2 and they have developed a love for travel themselves.

Glaciers have always intrigued me and my fondest memory takes me back to sailing the Inside Passage of the Glacier Bay National Park Alaska. The magnificent sight of collapsing glaciers into the bay had me in awe for many days after the experience.

I miss travel in every aspect, as a traveller, tourist myself and as someone whose livelihood is dependent on the economic turnover it generates.

Jamilia A Samuel is General Manager @ Romney Manor, St. Kitts, West Indies. WTTC would like to thank Jamilia and the team at St Kitts Tourism for sharing her story.