2017 Was Record-Breaking Year for St. Lucia Tourism

A 2017 tourism performance report from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) said Saint Lucia had an all-time high 1,105,541 visitor arrivals total for 2017.

The island also recorded the highest growth for the year among CTO member countries, registering an impressive 11 percent increase.

Last year in Saint Lucia was characterized by sustained growth in the industry, with stayover arrivals at 386,127 and the cruise sector recording a 14 percent increase, reaching 669,217.

That’s an additional 81,264 cruise visitors despite the eight-month closure of the Pointe Seraphine Berth 1.

The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority worked closely with the CTO and trade partners to overcome the indirect challenges faced by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, ensuring all markets that the destination was safe and available for travel.

Saint Lucia was spared by both hurricanes, which caused significant damage to such islands as Saint Martin, Anguilla, Antigua, Puerto Rico, the USVI and Cuba.

Belize visits last year rose 10.8 percent, while Bermuda was up 10.3 percent. Overall, U.S. territories in the Caribbean were down 7.9 percent and the Dutch Caribbean countries down 6.6 percent, the CTO said.

At the close of 2017, The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) Travel Trends Report for 2018, the most important document issued in the UK travel industry, selected Saint Lucia as one of the top 12 destinations for 2018.

The island is famous for its luxury resorts and spas. Touring volcanic areas and tasting local chocolate also are hugely popular, as are hikes up the dramatic and steep slopes of the rock formations known as The Pitons.

The waters outside Sugar Beach in the southwest corner of the island are a UNESCO heritage site, with wonderful snorkeling and diving. Rod Hanna was recently appointed Canadian trade manager for Saint Lucia Tourism.

Source: Travel Pulse Canada