Grenada sees increase in stay-over visitors this year, says tourism authority

Figures from the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) show that the stay-over visitors to the country during the first six months of 2017 are up 5% compared to the same period in 2016.

According to their latest release, this equates to 71,769 people.

Among the increase is a jump of 10% in the number of arrivals from the USA and an additional 9% of Canadian visitors.

The biggest increase came from German tourists, with 1,512 coming to the island up to the end of June – 33% more than the first six months of 2016.

Patricia Maher, CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority, said: “We are happy with the growth in arrivals for the first half of the year when compared to last year, as it shows our robust and creative efforts in marketing the destination, is paying dividends.”

Two sets of data

In the latest release, the GTA predicted 27% more cruise arrivals for the 2017/2018 winter season.

The only sub-sector that saw an increase using the seasonal period rather than half-yearly reporting was stay-over visitors, although this was only 0.47% – or 300 extra visitors.

The government did not respond to requests for comment on the drop, although Nazim Burke – de facto opposition leader in Grenada – labelled the decline as a “sorry situation”.

Grenada is ‘safe and fun’

Official figures for Grenada’s 2017 Carnival have not yet been released.

But according to preliminary predictions from airport arrivals and data collection it was a “bumper season”.

“Spice Mas 2017 is showing to have provided a further boost to Grenada’s image as not only being one of sun, sea and sand but also as one of the safest destinations in the world to have fun,” said Clarice Modeste-Curwen, minister for tourism and civil aviation.