Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Reading Time: 7 minutesSaint Lucia, an Eastern Caribbean gem, offers visa-free entry to 109 countries, stunning landscapes, luxurious resorts, and vibrant attractions like the Pitons and Sulphur Springs.
Saint Lucia offers visa-free entry to citizens of 109 countries, making it an attractive destination for business travel, luxury travel and leisure travel. This Eastern Caribbean island nation is located north of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and south of Martinique, positioning it among the Windward Islands. Saint Lucia, a jewel in the Caribbean, offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and luxurious experiences. With its stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, and vibrant local culture, Saint Lucia is a dream destination for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation.
In 2023, the island welcomed over one million tourists, a substantial increase from approximately 737,000 in 2022. Tourism Analytics reported that 748,373 people visited Saint Lucia from January to September 2023, a 68 percent increase from 444,618 arrivals in 2022. U.S. visitors represented 56 percent of stayover arrivals in the first three quarters of 2023. In April 2024, Saint Lucia saw an 8.8 percent increase in stopover visitor arrivals, growing from 34,539 in April 2023 to 37,588 in April 2024. However, the island received 39,979 visitors by cruise ship in April 2024, a 39.0 percent decrease from 65,547 cruise visitors in April 2023. Additionally, yacht arrivals dropped by 4.5 percent, from 3,617 in April 2023 to 3,453 in April 2024. The USA accounted for 20,028 stopover arrivals in April 2024, a 4.5 percent increase from 19,173 in April 2023. The UK saw a 40.5 percent increase, with 8,329 visitors in April 2024 compared to 5,927 in April 2023. Canadian visitors numbered 3,409, and other Caribbean islands contributed 4,207 stopovers.
TTW Editor in Chief Mr. Anup Kumar Keshan said: I believe that Saint Lucia offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and luxurious experiences, making it a jewel in the Caribbean. With visa-free entry for citizens of 109 countries, it becomes an attractive destination for business, luxury, and leisure travel. Positioned among the Windward Islands, north of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and south of Martinique, Saint Lucia boasts iconic attractions like the Pitons, volcanic beaches, reef-diving sites, and luxury resorts. The vibrant fishing villages and lush rainforests, with trails leading to stunning waterfalls like the 15-meter-high Toraille, add to its charm. Castries, the capital city, is a popular cruise port, making it even more accessible. With its stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, and vibrant local culture, I consider Saint Lucia a dream destination for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation.
From January to April 2024, Saint Lucia experienced a 10.7 percent increase in stopover visitors, rising from 142,561 in the same period of 2023 to 157,849 in 2024. The USA saw an 8.7 percent increase in stopovers, growing from 78,279 in the first four months of 2023 to 85,081 in 2024. Similarly, stopovers from the UK increased by 8.7 percent, from 30,896 to 33,596. The island received 428,848 cruise visitors in the first four months of 2024, a slight 0.7 percent increase compared to 425,926 in the same period of 2023. Yacht arrivals also increased slightly from 18,122 in 2023 to 18,525 in 2024. The USA accounted for 56.2 percent of total stay-over arrivals year-to-date, with approximately 45,400 visitors, while the UK accounted for 30.3 percent, with nearly 24,500 visitors.
Saint Lucia is renowned for its dramatically tapered mountains, the Pitons, located on the west coast. The coastline is dotted with volcanic beaches, reef-diving sites, luxury resorts, and fishing villages. Trails through the interior rainforest lead to waterfalls like the 15-meter-high Toraille, which cascades into a garden. The capital city, Castries, is a popular cruise port, adding to the island’s appeal for travelers seeking natural beauty and adventure.
Tourism is a crucial industry for Saint Lucia. The island’s popularity as a tourist destination is attributed to its favorable weather, picturesque scenery, and numerous beaches, some of which feature unique black volcanic sand. The relatively small land area means that most governmental promotion efforts are managed by the state-operated Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, led by Executive Chairperson Agnes. In 2023, international tourists visiting Saint Lucia spent over 3.1 billion East Caribbean dollars in total. This represents an increase compared to the previous year’s spending, which was 2.95 billion East Caribbean dollars.
In 2022, Saint Lucia had a GDP growth rate of 15.9 percent, with a gross domestic product of 234.37 crores USD and a GDP per capita of 13,030.93 USD, according to the World Bank. Saint Lucia’s economy benefits significantly from foreign business and investment, particularly in offshore banking and tourism. Tourism is the primary source of jobs and income, contributing to 65% of GDP and serving as the main source of foreign exchange earnings.
Saint Lucia is set to expand its hospitality infrastructure with the addition of at least 1,000 new hotel rooms by 2025. Notable developments include the Secrets Saint Lucia Resort & Spa, opening in 2024, and the Cas en Bas Beach Resort, the first Destination by Hyatt-branded resort in Saint Lucia, also opening in 2024. Additionally, a 140-room Courtyard by Marriott-branded hotel at Pointe Seraphine Castries is slated for a 2025 opening. The island is also constructing a new international airport at Hewanorra, expected to open in 2024, which will accommodate larger aircraft and more passengers, featuring modern amenities like a new terminal building, runway extension, and control tower.
Saint Lucia has two airports. Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) at Vieux Fort primarily serves international flights and can accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A340. George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU), located near Castries, handles inter-island flights with regional turboprop aircraft.
Saint Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA) manages the island’s airports, with Hewanorra International Airport handling around 700,000 passengers annually. The airport can accommodate various long-range intercontinental jet aircraft, including Boeing 747, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, and Boeing 777.
From North America, direct service to Saint Lucia is available on American Airlines from Miami, Charlotte, and Philadelphia; on JetBlue from New York and Boston; on Delta from Atlanta; and on United Airlines from New Jersey and Chicago. Air Canada and WestJet also offer direct flights from Toronto year-round, while direct service from Montreal is available at peak times of the year on Air Canada and some chartered services.
Inter-island travel is well-serviced by several airlines including LIAT, Air Caraibes, Air Antilles, and Caribbean Airlines. For specific dates and availability, it’s best to check with your travel agent or directly with the airlines.
Saint Lucia is a popular destination for cruise ships, with a significant number of passengers visiting the island annually. In 2023, the island welcomed over 614,980 cruise passengers. This influx of visitors is split between the winter and summer seasons, with 425,926 passengers arriving during the winter months and 189,144 during the summer. The peak winter season sees a higher volume of cruise arrivals, taking advantage of the island’s warm climate and beautiful scenery during the colder months in the northern hemisphere. Cruise ships often dock at Castries, the capital city, where passengers can easily access local attractions, beaches, and shopping areas. The increase in cruise arrivals contributes significantly to the local economy, providing business opportunities for local vendors, tour operators, and the hospitality sector.
Saint Lucia’s blend of natural wonders, cultural richness, luxurious retreats, and adventure activities make it an unparalleled destination in the Caribbean. Whether you’re seeking relaxation, exploration, or a bit of both, Saint Lucia promises an unforgettable experience that will leave you longing to return.
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