15 Sep 2022by Charlotte Cullinan
The most recent UK customer arrival figures for St Lucia present the vacation spot is nearing 2019 ranges, because it predicts “a fair larger” 2023.
Charlotte Cullinan
Content material author
Charlotte Cullinan
Content material author
St Lucia welcomed 51,000 guests from the UK within the first seven months of 2022, which represented 73% of the equal determine in 2019.
Lorine Charles-St. Jules, chief govt of The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), added that UK arrivals for February, March and July 2022 had surpassed the figures from the identical months in 2019.
Talking to TTG at a St Lucia media showcase in London, Charles-St. Jules mentioned she was “cautiously optimistic” for 2023. “The primary quarter appears actually good, and we’re anticipating a fair larger 12 months [than 2022],” she added.
Charles-St. Jules mentioned the full variety of guests from all tourism markets between January and July was 210,000, which represented 81% of the equal determine in 2019.
She mentioned eating places throughout the island, together with these in motels and resorts, additionally reported their greatest ever July this 12 months. “I’m actually happy with our culinary sector, which is on a full rebound, and our eating places and motels present distinctive culinary delights.”
Funding and innovation
Charles-St. Jules mentioned brokers had been “extremely vital” for St Lucia. She added: “We’re a stable vacation spot, we’ve invested in our product and we’re in enterprise along with journey brokers. If we develop, they develop, and we need to reinforce our partnerships with the commerce. Tourism is our enterprise and it’s what St Lucia relies on.”
The vacation spot is internet hosting three fam journeys this autumn, centered on diving, romance and luxurious, every for 10 to fifteen brokers, with extra journeys deliberate for 2023.
Charles-St. Jules additionally harassed the “continued funding” within the island with renovation and refurbishment works underway at properties together with at Cap Maison Resort & Spa, Coconut Bay Seaside Resort & Spa and Windjammer Touchdown Villa Seaside Resort. Newcomers embrace AMResorts’ Secrets and techniques St. Lucia Resort & Spa, which is slated to open in 2023.
In September the island dropped all Covid-related pre-travel necessities for guests and Charles-St. Jules mentioned the SLTA had spent the final three years “constructing, auditing and augmenting what we do”.
A bar crawl initiative is because of launch, which can be promoted via DMCs to encourage guests to discover bars throughout the island. “We’re encouraging individuals to step out for just a few hours and expertise the tradition of St Lucia,” Charles-St. Jules defined. Subsequent 12 months the St Lucia Jazz and Arts Competition will return, from 5 to 11 Could.
The Assortment de Pepites scheme launched this April, selling greater than 400 smaller properties, which all supply between 10% and 15% fee to the commerce.
The island additionally hosted its carnival from 10 to twenty July, attracting 10,000 guests. “It was the most important variety of revellers ever, so if you happen to’re excited about carnivals or festivities, come to St Lucia,” Charles-St. Jules added.
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