Saint Lucia marks 15% increase in visitor arrivals, welcomes 30,408 stay-over guests in October

Saint Lucia marked 15% surge in the arrival of visitors in October 2024 compared to the last year, welcoming a record breaking 30,408 stay-over arrivals.

This figure indicates a growth of 13% in the arrival of visitors in comparison to October 2019, a key benchmark year before COVID-19 pandemic.

Unveiling the data, the Minister of Tourism of Saint Lucia, Ernest Hilaire said that the island nation is performing exceptionally well with stay-over arrivals for 2024.

Key drivers of Growth

Focussing on the data unveiled, the tourism authority noted that this growth has been witnessed due to the events hosted by them in October which attracted significant number of tourists to the country.

This influx of visitors was attributed by the events like the RedLAC Conference, the Republic Bank Billfish Tournament, the OECS Law Conference, and the Creole Day Celebrations.

The authorities added that these events brought several visitors from across the world, marking a substantial growth in the arrival of stay-over visitors.

RedLAC Conference: Saint Lucia hosted the RedLAC conference which run for four days from 7^th to 10^th October, 2024. The conference brought hundreds of delegates from around 19 nations.

The delegates held significant discussions, aiming to foster collaboration in favor of biodiversity and sustainable development.

Republic Bank Billfish Tournament: The Republic Bank Billfish Tournament was conducted from 8^th to 12^th October, 2024. The tournament attracted hundreds of passengers, and showcased the island’s warmth, vibrant culture, and delectable cuisine.

OECS Law Conference: Saint Lucia hosted the OECS Law Conference from 17^th to 20^th October, 2024. This 3-day workshop was attended by several delegates from across the Caribbean region provided in-depth analysis on the principles, standards and complexities of constitutional law and administrative law.

Creole Day Celebrations: The annual event which is held on the last Sunday of October is a celebration of lively music, dance, delicious Creole cuisine and many more. This event attracted thousands of tourists to the nation and showcased the diverse offerings of the country.

International stay-over arrivals to Saint Lucia

Shedding light on the data, the tourism minister shared an impressive 30% increase in the Caribbean arrivals in October 2024 in comparison to the last year.

As per data, the US market has also played a huge role in this massive growth. As, the country recorded a 25% increase in the arrival of visitors from US compared to the previous year.

Saint Lucia Tourism Authority asserted that they have also marked a massive increase in the seat capacity of passengers in the U.S. and Caribbean region.

The tourism authority reiterated their commitment to continue to make significant efforts with a vision to position Saint Lucia as a premier destination for the international visitors. They added that they are looking forward to attract more visitor arrivals this winter and provide the diverse offerings of the country.