In 2024, St. Vincent and the Grenadines saw a record-breaking growth rate of 25 percent in stay-over arrivals from that in 2023. This is now a destination to watch in the Caribbean. The country’s Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Carlos James made an exciting announcement on Thursday, January 15, 2025.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines a destination to watch in the Caribbean

According to Minister James, St. Vincent and the Grenadines surpassed its target by jumping to a 25.6 percent increase in stay-over arrivals since 2013. Moreover, the Caribbean destination has enjoyed a 39 percent increase over 2019, one of the country’s best years before the global health pandemic.

For the first time in the island’s tourism, stay-over arrivals in St. Vincent and the Grenadines reached more than 100,000. Meanwhile, as of December 2024, around 101,471 stay-over visitors traveled to the multi-island Caribbean state.

Moreover, when compared to its destination peers in the region, the country has exhibited the highest average growth in stay-over arrivals.

Caribbean destination enjoying a tourism growth rate

According to Minister James, the growth rate of the industry averaged around 30.8 percent over the past decade in total arrivals. This surpassed a long-term average in the range of 7 – 9 percent annually. Meanwhile, given the relatively early stages of the tourism development in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, such high growth is expected to continue into the medium to long term.

The tourism minister attributed the destination’s strong growth performance to several factors. However, it is primarily a sharp increase in airlift, with four new carriers added in Q4 of 2024.

Moreover, a burgeoning yachting and cruise sector and increased hotel development and expansion, including the new Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines Resort, Holiday Inn Express and Suites, La Vue Hotel and Mayah’s Suite among others.

Looking ahead to 2025, Minister James stated that St. Vincent and the Grenadines plans to keep the momentum going, with plans for additional rooms underway, including the Marriott Hotel breaking ground this year with an added 250 rooms.

Meanwhile, the new air carriers in 2024 were Sunrise, LIAT2020, WINAIR, and JetBlue Airways which increased the destination’s capacity out of JFK in New York.

Minister James said of the growth:

This rapid growth within our tourism sector illustrates the collective work that the ministry, tourism authority, our air and sea ports, accommodations providers and our wider partners, are doing to ensure we continue to offer an unmatched Caribbean experience for our visitors.

A remarkable year for St. Vincent and the Grenadines

On top of the country’s success in visitor arrivals, the country achieved several accolades in 2024. These include the World Travel Awards Best Nature Destination, and Bequia was listed on CNN Travel’s Best Places to Travel in 2025.

While looking ahead to 2025, Minister James added:

I am especially pleased with all of the work that’s being done and with the opportunity to witness the results of our efforts. I look forward to the destination meeting its new targets going into the New Year and continuing to offer travelers a premier choice for their Caribbean holidays.

To learn more about St. Vincent and the Grenadines, please visit the official tourism website.