TORONTO — Saint Lucia is celebrating the highly anticipated return of Sunwing Airlines, the final Canadian airline to resume service to the island.
Sunwing’s new nonstop winter service from Toronto (YYZ) to Saint Lucia (UVF) kicked off on Jan. 22. Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Chairman of the SLTA Board of Directors Thaddeus M. Antoine and President of the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association Paul Collymore were all on hand to present Sunwing Captain Blair Pritchard with a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.
Tourism Minister Hilaire noted the importance of the Canadian market, which is Saint Lucia’s fourth largest. In 2019, the destination welcomed a record-breaking 40,000+ Canadian visitors.
“We are excited for the return of Sunwing,” he said. “It’s been nearly two years since the cancellation of all flights to the destination in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As travel restrictions begin to ease globally, we are looking forward to 2022 and re-establishing a strong relationship with the Canadian market.”
The Sunwing team in Saint Lucia
In addition to Sunwing’s new Saturday service, Saint Lucia offers direct flights from Toronto with Air Canada (3x/weekly on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) as well as weekly Sunday service with WestJet.
Entry requirements & safety protocols
All visitors and returning nationals must complete a Pre-Arrival registration form before departure, available on www.stlucia.org. The page also features a checklist overview of mandatory requirements. Canadian visitors must also obtain a negative PCR test within five days before travel to Saint Lucia.
As part of its phased reopening plan, Saint Lucia has introduced a non-electronic wristband for fully vaccinated travellers to expand island access, including booking car rentals and dining at additional restaurants.
Unvaccinated travellers will receive a bracelet that identifies them as long-stay visitors after 14 days on the island. On day 15, they can explore the island while observing standard COVID-19 protocols such as physical distancing and mask wearing in public places.
For more information go to www.stlucia.org/covid-19.
