Preliminary statistical data released by the Grenada Board of Tourism shows that during 2011 stay over arrivals increased by 5.41%, while cruise ship passengers recorded negative growth of 4.16%.  Overall a total of 116,398 stay over visitors were welcomed, compared to 319,427 cruise ship passengers.

Stay over visitors from the USA and the United Kingdom were again the main source markets for Grenada’s performance. A 4.23% increase in United Kingdom arrivals resulted in a total of 30, 625 British nationals, while the USA experienced an 8.61% growth as the number from that country reached a total of 35,895.

A 3.74% growth was also registered from Canada, where a total of 9,718 stay over visitors were sourced. Likewise visitors from the neighboring Caribbean islands expanded by 10.44% as the number increased from 25,730 to 28,417.  This was largely due to a 24.01% increase in visitors from Trinidad & Tobago.

Arrivals from Europe altogether (inclusive of the UK) were also on an upward trend as a 1.25% increase which brought the figure from 38,228 to 38,707.

The Grenada Board of Tourism anticipates that with the recent increase in airlift to Grenada, further growth will be experienced as the three-year strategic plan is implemented by way of focused marketing and product enhancement initiatives.

Known as the “Spice of the Caribbean,” Grenada boasts some of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches, delectable cuisine and spices, a tropical rainforest, and a wide range of fun-filled activities such as diving, snorkeling, hiking, fishing and sailing.  Grenada can be reached from the U.S. by Delta Airlines’ and Caribbean Air’s non-stop service from New York. Grenada can also be reached daily by American Eagle, via San Juan, and by American Airlines via its non-stop Miami service.