Tourism giveth and taketh away
The sleepy island of St. Kitts was a dream come true to a few fortunate British souls who were looking for secluded second homes. However this once affordable, undiscovered gem is now gleaming for all to see. European tourists and investors have descended on the island, at the invitation of the local government, to help boost the faltering economy, after the fall of the sugar cane industry. To some, the flurry of new developments bring the signs of opportunity, wealth, and a chance to own a sliver of paradise. However to the original 39,000 inhabitant, it is also the harbinger of overcrowding, escalating prices, and environmental consequences on a once tropical oasis, with no traffic lights.
