SVG sees increase in tourist arrivals between January and May

There was an increase in visitor arrivals to St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) between January and May 2016, as compared with the same period last year.

At a press conference last Tuesday at the National Insurance Services (NIS) conference room, Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture Cecil McKie said that from January to May 2015, 112,773 persons arrived in SVG, while 119,982 {{more}}persons arrived during that same period this year, which is a 6.4 per cent increase.

McKie stated that there was also a 6.8 per cent increase in arrivals between January and March.

He noted a 3 per cent increase in visitor arrivals in April, with 13,492 arriving in April 2015, compared to 13,894 in April 2016. According to the minister, for that month, there was a 13.9 per cent increase in stay over visitors, while for the first time, same day visitors had an 91 per cent increase. Arrival by sea decreased by 17.3 per cent and cruise ship arrivals increased by 12.7 per cent.

Additionally, Mckie said there has been a 6.3 per cent increase in visitor arrivals from January to April, where 2015 saw 103,985 arrivals and this year, 110,574.

For May this year, there was a 7.2 per cent increase in arrivals, with 9,418 visitors arriving this year, compared to 8,788 in 2015. Stay over visitors went up 2.2 per cent; same day visitors went down 12.1 per cent; yacht arrivals went down 3.1 per cent; and cruise ship arrivals went up 105.1 per cent. For the month of May 2015, there were 8,788 visitors and for the month of May 2016, 9,418, an increase of 7.2 per cent.

“We are still being encouraged by the arrivals and we know that we are catering in a major way for the coming into being of the Argyle International Airport, when we expect that we will see even greater increases in our arrival figures,” he commented.(AS)