Minister of Tourism Kishore Shallow says St. Vincent and the Grenadines is lagging behind other countries in the region, although stay‑over visitor arrivals have posted double‑digit growth in the first quarter of 2026, building on what officials say was a record year for the destination in 2025.
Chief Operating Officer of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, Shawn Sutherland, said at the same press conference in Villa on Thursday that 2025 set a new high‑water mark for stay‑over tourism, and that the upward trend has continued into 2026.
“The most significant figure that we had to report on last year was we had over 120,000 stay‑over arrivals, which was a record for St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Sutherland said, adding that early 2026 data show consistent growth month‑on‑month.
“Already for the first quarter, we are seeing a 10% … increase for each month for the first quarter – January, February and March – in terms of our stay‑overs,” Sutherland said, noting that the precise monthly percentage ranged “10, 11, 12%” but averaged about 10%.
“So we are seeing an upward trajectory, and we anticipate that will be very consistent over the course of the year,” he added.
While detailed figures for 2026 as a whole are not yet available, the Tourism Authority is positioning the first‑quarter performance as a continuation of a multi‑year recovery and growth trend following the COVID‑19 pandemic and the 2021 volcanic eruptions.
Cruise arrivals and regional comparison
Meanwhile, Shallow said cruise arrivals are also holding at significant levels, though he stressed that SVG still trails several regional competitors in both cruise and stay‑over numbers.
“Our cruise stats suggest that we have an average [of] about 350,000 passengers per year, and the stay‑over… this year, 120,000,” he said, referring to the 2025 stay‑over record on which the 2026 growth is being built.
Shallow said that, although SVG is improving, performance must be seen “relative to other countries” in the region.
“… if we look right across, Grenada stay‑over [is] 180‑something thousand. And if we look even closer than Grenada, St. Lucia is 426,000 per year,” he said.
“Antigua, St Kitts – for cruise, they receive over a million passengers per year,” the minister added.
Against that backdrop, he argued that the 2025 record and the 2026 first‑quarter growth figures show progress, but also underline how much room there is to expand.
“So, it means that there are opportunities for improvement. We could do a lot better,” Shallow said, adding that there must be “a strategic and deliberate approach from us to ensure we get there”.
Drivers of growth: airlift, investment and visibility
Sutherland linked the stronger arrival numbers to improved air connectivity, renewed investor confidence and a more aggressive approach to destination marketing.
“Despite the evolving global tourism landscape, we are encouraged by the steady signs of growth, renewed investor confidence and increasing international interest in our destination over the past several months,” Sutherland said.
He said airlift to the destination and accessibility are primary areas of focus.
“We continue to build on the opportunities created to improve air access and strategic partnerships with regional and international carriers. Enhanced connectivity remains essential to tourism, investment, business travel and visitor arrivals.”
He said the SVGTA is also seeing “growing confidence from the private sector” through new and ongoing hotel and tourism projects across the country.
“These developments [are] expected to increase room capacity, support occupancy growth, create employment and expand economic activity throughout mainland St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Sutherland said.
The COO pointed to a deliberate shift toward digital and influencer‑driven marketing.
“We’re also leveraging global digital exposure opportunities, including the recent international attention generated through streaming platforms like IShowSpeed, Below Deck and the David Hoffman YouTube channel,” he said.
“The visibility generated through IShowSpeed’s Caribbean content demonstrated the growing influence of digital creators and online streaming platforms in shaping travel interests among younger global audiences,” Sutherland added.
He said the Authority intends to capitalise on these gains by strengthening “digital storytelling, influencer engagement and modern destination marketing strategies” that position SVG “within the evolving global travel trends”.
You inherited a bad hand,I know. Blame Carlos. If the NDP had it’s way,there’ ll be no airport at Argyle and Arnos Vale runway would have been extended bringing in medium size jets like Dominica Melville Hall. We would have attracted bigger and better investments and Vincy would have has the most tourists arrivals in the Caribbean. This was the NDP’s plan for tourism development for Vincy in a nutshell. Mr Minister,I know you have very little to work with,but do the best you can..sorry Arnos Vale wasn’t extended.
you guys ban jet ski, water sports and no zip line, no big docks to host these massive ships they are building now, so you must be behind.