Saint Lucia welcomed 50,000 guests from the UK within the first seven months of 2022, simply shy of the 51,000 it attracted throughout the identical interval in 2019.
Lorine Charles-St Jules, chief government of The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), added that UK arrivals for March, April and July 2022 had surpassed the figures from the identical months in 2019. The UK is the island’s second greatest market, behind the USA.
Chatting with TTG at a Saint 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 good larger 12 months [than 2022],” she added.
Charles-St Jules mentioned the overall variety of guests from all tourism markets between January and July was 210,000. This represents 81% of the 262,000 guests the vacation spot obtained throughout the identical interval in 2019.
She mentioned eating places throughout the island, together with these in inns and resorts, additionally reported their best-ever July this 12 months. “I’m actually happy with our culinary sector, which is on a full rebound, and our eating places and inns present distinctive culinary delights.”
Funding and innovation
Charles-St Jules mentioned brokers have been “extremely vital” for Saint Lucia. She added: “We’re a strong 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 Saint Lucia relies on.”
The vacation spot is internet hosting three fam journeys this autumn, targeted on diving, romance and luxurious, every for 10 to fifteen brokers, with further journeys deliberate for 2023.
Charles-St Jules additionally pressured the “continued funding” within the island with renovation and refurbishment works underneath manner at properties together with at Cap Maison Resort & Spa, Coconut Bay Seashore Resort & Spa and Windjammer Touchdown Villa Seashore Resort. Newcomers embrace AMResorts’ Secrets and techniques Saint 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 will likely be promoted via DMCs to encourage guests to discover bars throughout the island. “We’re encouraging individuals to step out for a number of hours and expertise the tradition of Saint Lucia,” Charles-St Jules defined. Subsequent 12 months the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Competition will return, from 5-11 Could.
The Assortment de Pepites scheme launched this April, selling greater than 400 smaller properties, which all provide between 10% and 15% fee to the commerce.
The island additionally hosted its carnival from 10-20 July, attracting 10,000 guests. “It was the most important variety of revellers ever, so when you’re fascinated by carnivals or festivities, come to Saint Lucia,” Charles-St Jules added.