Following a record year in tourism in 2017, Pure Grenada has reported continued growth in overall arrivals for the first half of 2018.

The three performance indicators – cruise, stayover and yacht arrivals – contributed to an overall increase of 21.2% when compared to the same period in 2017. Moreover, the latest statistics from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) ranked Grenada in the top three markets for increased growth in tourist arrivals from the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Stayover arrivals increased by 10.7% with the largest market, the U.S., showing a significant 18.1% increase year-to-date. Canada, meanwhile, had a growth of 8.56%.

Cruise arrivals from January to June 2018 grew by 26.5%, with yachting arrivals increasing by 9% and yachting calls by 8.5%. This placed Grenada fourth by the CTO’s June report for positive growth in cruise passenger arrivals behind Bermuda, Curacao and Martinique.

“Our private/public sector cruise consultancy project is going well and it will improve our services and offerings, thereby making Grenada even more desirable in the eyes of cruise itinerary planners,” said Nikoyan Roberts, Manager for Nautical Development.

As for flight calls to Grenada, Clarice Modeste-Curwen, Minister for Tourism & Civil Aviation, reported a 24.6% increase in the first half of the year over the same period in 2017, with notable increases from Air Canada, LIAT and private aircraft.