In February, Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique lit up with vibrant celebrations, marking 50 years of independence, whereas additionally experiencing a notable 29% surge in UK arrivals in comparison with the earlier 12 months.
This uptick follows an 8% improve in January 2024. The Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) credit this success to its strategic initiatives and collaborative efforts with journey brokers, operators, and airways within the UK market.
Including to their momentum, Petra Roach, CEO of the GTA, accompanied by Emil Edwards, UK Gross sales Supervisor, and UK Commerce Representatives Black Diamond, participated within the prestigious Unite Caribbean occasion on March 11, 2024, as a part of a UK outreach gross sales mission. Participating in 25 impactful conferences with key UK tour operators, they geared up them with insights and assets important for successfully selling Grenada as a top-tier journey vacation spot.
“These collaborative efforts between the GTA and our valued UK tour operators are with the categorical intention of accelerating Grenada’s presence within the UK market. That they’ve manifested within the development in UK tourism arrivals to Grenada, exhibits that this strategic funding has labored,” acknowledged Petra Roach, Chief Government Officer of the Grenada Tourism Authority.
“The British market has a excessive return visitation, the longest size of keep, and one of many highest customer spends. So now we have prioritized it as certainly one of our pillars of development for 2024.”
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Notable trade gamers similar to Spice Island Seashore Resort, Calabash Lodge, Silver Sands, Coyaba, True Blue Bay, Mount Cinnamon, and St. James Journey and Excursions additionally joined the occasion. Adele Garbutt, Proprietor & Director at Calabash, expressed optimism in regards to the future, citing a thriving enterprise with bookings pacing 43% forward of the earlier 12 months and a 35% income improve for Q1 2024.
Tour operators’ studies point out sturdy development for Grenada in 2024, with bookings for the primary two months surpassing final 12 months’s figures for the whole first quarter. Anticipation for the opening of Six Senses in April 2024 is already driving bookings.
Trade leaders and UK-based tour operators echoed constructive sentiments:
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- Brydie Peacock, Advertising Supervisor of Caribtours, famous Grenada’s distinctive efficiency amidst a downturn within the Caribbean, with solely Grenada and Barbados experiencing development.
- Emma Fruer, Vacation spot Government – Caribbean at BA Holidays, reported a major double-digit improve in January gross sales to Grenada in comparison with the earlier 12 months.
- Melissa Scarlet, Senior Product Government – Caribbean at Kuoni, hailed Grenada as a “shining star.”
- Harriet Hudders, Partnerships Supervisor at GoldMedal, recognized Grenada because the best-performing island with the very best development amongst their prime 10 locations.
Virgin Atlantic and British Airways additionally reported sturdy first-quarter performances for Grenada, with Virgin Atlantic witnessing practically double the arrivals in comparison with the identical interval in 2023.
