TORONTO — The Grenada Tourism Authority is cheering the return of Air Canada’s direct service from Toronto to Grenada, scheduled to begin Oct. 30, 2022.

The twice-weekly flights will operate on Sundays and Thursdays, connecting Toronto Pearson International Airport to Maurice Bishop International Airport.

Grenada’s Clarice Modeste-Curwen, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Climate Resilience and the Environment, said: “The return of Air Canada is welcome news at a time when accessibility and travel convenience are key to attracting international visitors. Canadian arrival numbers have remained strong, in spite of the absence of direct service, so we know that the demand is there. We are committed to working alongside our airline partners to ensure continuous connectivity to our country.”

Diana Rodriguez, Product Director for Air Canada Vacations, says Grenada is pacing ahead of 2019 numbers and group business is up 37%.

INTERVIEW WITH GTA’s CEO PETRA ROACH

In a deskside interview yesterday with Travelweek, Grenada Tourism Authority CEO Petra Roach shared some of the GTA’s strategy points.

Roach was in town this week to meet with industry stakeholders in the Canadian travel industry, to share developmental plans for the growth of the market and to agree on collaborative initiatives to drive business for the winter season.

While there are plenty of resorts on Grenada, their intimate size and attention to detail are perfectly in keeping with Grenada’s vibe. Laluna Boutique Hotel & Villas has 16 romantic cottages and villas. Newcomers including Silversands with 51 rooms, and sister property Beach House by Silversands, opening in early 2023 with 32 rooms, are on that same page too.

And while there are larger properties on the island – like Royalton Grenada, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort, and Sandals Grenada – along with the soon-to-open 100-room Six Senses La Sagesse, no visitor to Grenada should ever expect to see soaring skyscraper hotels, or massive sprawling resorts.

“Grenada is a boutique destination, and that’s exactly what we want to be, we’re never going to be anything else,” Roach told Travelweek. “We want to give people that personal interaction.”

Roach adds that sustainability is at the heart of Grenada’s travel product, not just in terms of the environment, but making sure locals are the beneficiaries of the island’s tourism scene.

The top two demographics from the Canadian market are couples, and families. Destination weddings are strong too. While the visitor profile has typically skewed a bit older, with 54% of Canadian visitors to Grenada ages 45 – 64, more promotion of soft adventure and culinary offerings has brought the 25 – 34 age range up to 21% of the market. Hiking and trekking are popular, and so is diving. “Grenada has the best diving in the Caribbean when it comes to close-to-shore diving sites, and wrecks,” says Roach. Of special note, the Grenada Underwater Sculpture Park opened in 2006 to great acclaim. The island is also increasingly known for its Grenada Chocolate Fest, with the May 2022 event a rousing success, and with the May 2023 edition already on the calendar.

Roach says Grenada’s quirky and fun approach to events and attractions is typical for the island. “At the end of the day, it’s not about following anyone else’s footprints. It’s about making our own.”

Agents can learn all about Grenada – and its sister islands Carriacou and Petite Martinique – with the Grenada Travel Expert Program. Launched earlier this year, and available at expert.puregrenada.com, the program includes 12 modules and a quiz. Agents who complete the program qualify for fam trips and prizes.

Says the GTA’s Sekou Stroude: “The reaction to the Grenada Travel Expert Program has been very positive. We’ve been pushing it quite a lot and we’ve had a lot of agents sign up.”

The key takeaway from Roach and Stroude? Grenada is open to Canadian travellers and eager to continue to work with travel advisors and tour operators to make sure more Canadian visitors experience ‘The Spice of the Caribbean’.

Grenada lifted its entry protocols effective April 4, 2022. Vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers arriving into Grenada:

• Do not need to take any COVID-19 tests prior to arrival or upon arrival
• Do not need to fill out a Health Declaration Form prior to arrival or upon arrival
• Do not need to quarantine on arrival

More information about Grenada can be found at www.puregrenada.com.