About Us
Crucian Heritage And Nature Tourism, Inc. (CHANT) is a non-political, broad-community-based coalition committed to the advancement of Crucian heritage and nature tourism. By perusing this site and supporting our efforts, you will not only have a fun and educational vacation, but you will also be supporting local businesses and contributing to the sustainable development of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands as well. CHANT GALLERY
Goal: To establish heritage and nature as both the lead tourism product for St. Croix, and the as the vehicle for sustainable community development.
Objectives: To act as a catalyst for the unified support of heritage and nature tourism among the Department of Tourism and all other tourism interests
To focus on development from within, bringing together providers and other industry people to forge a dynamic, and uniquely Crucian, heritage and nature tourism product
CHANT Leadership:
Executive Director: Rick Carrington - Bio
Board of Directors: Willard John, Wayne James, Kelly Gloger, Onaje Jackson, Aminah Saleem, Richard A. Schrader, Sr., Janice Tutein, Cecile O’Neill
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History
CHANT (Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism) Incorporated was originally formed in the fall of 1999 as a non-political, broad-community-based coalition committed to the advancement of Crucian heritage and nature tourism as a vehicle for sustainable development of the St. Croix community. CHANT is a first-of-its-kind program. While there has been much talk about the great potential of heritage and nature tourism among international sustainable tourism circles in recent years, the CHANT program will be among the first programs with a genuine heritage and nature focus to be fully developed and implemented in the world.
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Mission Statement
CHANT is the architect of a new tourism platform upon which a wide array of vibrant, high-quality Crucian heritage and nature tourism products are developed and expanded over time. Working closely with existing heritage and nature tourism product providers, as well as identifying and nurturing new providers, CHANT helps to develop and maintain a high level of authenticity and quality among St. Croix’s heritage and nature product providers.
CHANT simultaneously works with international and regional heritage and nature tourism market promoters and tour packagers, as well as members of the local community, to link the CHANT provider with those seeking a unique, high-quality heritage and nature experience.
CHANT works with the entire St. Croix tourism industry (public, private, and non-profit sectors) and other public interest groups to promote heritage and nature tourism and to support the expansion of resources and infrastructure that will benefit all members of the industry (e.g. expanded air-lift, development of high-quality lodgings, small business development support, tourism education and training, among others)..
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Vision Statement
CHANT will help spark a sustainable tourism renaissance on St. Croix by establishing our island-community as one of the leading heritage and nature tourism destinations in the world. By focusing on development from within, CHANT’s heritage and nature tourism program will serve as an engine for sustainable economic development, contributing to a new era of increased broad-based prosperity and community pride.
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CHANT has three (3) primary organizational functions including:
1) "Tourism Platform" Planning, Administration, and Quality Control;
2) Tour and Events Packaging and
Marketing ; and
3) Product Development and Provider
Start-up Support".
This is the core day-to-day function of the CHANT program: delivering tour and event products to members of the heritage and nature tourism markets worldwide and providing ongoing product promotions and marketing. A key tool for developing and maintaining this function will be a dynamic and interactive Web Site (with an extensive network of Web linkages).
