St. Lucia Reports 20 Percent Increase in Visitors in First Quarter

St. Lucia recorded a 20 percent increase in overnight arrivals in the first quarter of 2012, with 95,170 overnight visitors, compared with 82,652 recorded in the first quarter of 2011, according to statistics from the St. Lucia Tourist Board.

The positive first-quarter totals represent a reversal of the destinations’ flat arrival statistics in 2011, when the 304,639 visitors recorded represent a slight decline from 305, 937 in 2011. The totals include a 9 percent increase in vacationers from the U.S., the island’s largest visitor source.

St. Lucia tourism officials attribute the increase to increased airlift from the northeast U.S., new hotel refurbishments and renovations, plus new attractions. JetBlue Airways launched flights from New York’s JFK airport to Hewanorra Airport in St. Lucia from June 28 through Sept. 4, 2012.

http://www.travelpulse.com/st-lucia-reports-20-percent-increase-in-visitors-in-first-quarter.html