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The tourism department said the increase in the number of tourists during the carnival period is a testament to the popularity and appeal of the destination.
Tourism grew significantly in July, up 32% on the previous year, testament to the success of the Lucien Carnival and improved flight availability.
The focus now is to continue to focus on the development of the festival, managing its expansion while maintaining its historical significance. There are plans to introduce new events at next year’s carnival and a firm commitment to making it a success.
Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire elaborated on the latest development, noting the boom in the hospitality industry over the past few years. He noted that the Lucian Carnival in July was a “huge success” with strong support from sponsors and revellers of the various events.
“The number of tourists this July is on par with 2019… 2019 was our highest year for tourism in the entire year,” Dr Hillaire told reporters at a press conference on Monday.
The surge was attributed to the Lucien Carnival, American Airlines’ second daily flight from Miami, and JetBlue’s addition of daily flights from New York. The US market led the way, up 52% month-over-month, while the UK, the Caribbean and Canada also saw significant growth.
In addition, the Government is working hard to address and promote the yachting industry, including upgrading the Marigot Bay Yachting Area. The Government is actively working to ensure the continued growth and success of these activities and industries, with plans to increase the number of cruise ship visitors and continue to promote yachting activities.
The tourism minister added: “We expect that tourist numbers will peak soon… but we still have some issues with the number of regional tourists and we also know that air transport remains a problem.”
He noted that the commitment to enhancing the festival’s appeal and maintaining its historical significance, as well as plans to grow the yachting industry, reflects St. Lucia’s clear vision for the future of tourism.
He said a “large number of seats” during the summer helped boost visitor numbers. But at the same time, “we will continue to work hard to promote yachting and try to attract more yachts than before.”
Dr Hillaire said there were plans to upgrade the Marigot Bay yachting precinct and plans for a “comprehensive redevelopment of Marigot Bay” had been submitted to the Development Control Authority (DCA) and were being finalised.
While noting the efficiency of Saint Lucia’s ship repair and maintenance facilities, the Minister also revealed plans to build another shipyard in Saint Lucia.
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