St Vincent and the Grenadines sees sustained tourism growth in Cruise and stay-over arrivals

St Vincent and the Grenadines is on a relentless tour upward trajectory as this year there has been significant growth in cruise and overnight visitor arrivals. This success comes at a time when the rest of the world has been experiencing some challenging times, and it simply goes to show that the tourism sector for […]

27th of September 2024

St Vincent and the Grenadines sees sustained tourism growth in Cruise and stay-over arrivals

St Vincent and the Grenadines is on a relentless tour upward trajectory as this year there has been significant growth in cruise and overnight visitor arrivals.

This success comes at a time when the rest of the world has been experiencing some challenging times, and it simply goes to show that the tourism sector for this nation is strong, and whatever strategies have been in place to attract and accommodate more visitors have been effective enough.

Tourism Minister for St Vincent and Grenadines, Carlos James recently announced that the country experienced its third consecutive year of growth in cruise arrivals with a 10% annual growth rate.

The said development is attributed to the joint efforts through investment by the tourism sector, including improving the visitor experience, promoting the specific attractions of the islands, and physical developments.

Islands like Bequia and Canouan are experiencing record cruise ship calls, including an impressive 104 inbound voyages to Bequia for the season. In the light of the global challenges toward the yachting sector, the destination remains a premier yachting hub with a stable performance for the sector and minimum drops in arrivals.

Overnight stays in St Vincent and the Grenadines have also increased, with an incredible 30 percent year over year, for the first six months of 2024.

With a remarkable number of stay-over visitors for the year, the growth is beyond pre-pandemic levels and further underlines the appeal of the islands as the number one destination.

According to Minister James, this increase in stay-over visitors was attributed to strategic marketing as well as the tourism attractions of the natural beauty, vibrant culture, and the warm hospitality as shown through the various events related to the industries.

Another boost to the sector is the launch of four new airlines, which are going to increase access and connectivity in the region.

LIAT20, JetBlue, Sunrise, and Winair will start flying into St Vincent in October 2024. Further opening the destination to international visitors, the new routes offer a good possibility for visitors and support sustainable growth in tourism arrivals.

The addition of both cruise and stay-over arrivals grows the tourism industry while positively impacting local businesses, creating work opportunities, and supporting the general growth of the nation’s economy.

The Ministry will continue to be a key player in positioning St Vincent and the Grenadines as a modern, evolving tourism destination supporting sustainable tourism practices that will promote long-term development and experiences for visitors.

The tourism sector in the country is alive, and both cruise and overnight arrivals have performed well and continue to do so, complimented by increasing airline connectivity.

The commitment of the Ministry of Tourism of St Vincent and the Grenadines towards enhancing visitor experiences and promoting the islands on the world stage is paying off, thus, the future for St Vincent and the Grenadines tourism looks bright indeed.