Total visitor arrivals rose 15.6 percent over the last year, mainly as a result of significant higher tourist arrivals. Consequently, this represents a record high number of visitor arrivals.
The Caribbean market accounted for 59.6 of all visitors compared to 55.9 percent last year. The United States maintained its position as the second leading market, registering 20.3 of all arrivals, followed by Europe, 15.8 percent.
Sixty-nine percent of all visitors were air arrivals. Melville Hall, regaining its position as the main airport since 1997, accounted for 56.7 percent of all visitors arrivals and 82 percent of air arrivals. Although reflecting a steadily decreasing market share over the last two years. LIAT continues to be the most popular airline transporting 48.8 percent of air visitors. American Eagle, the second leading airline, recording a steady rise over the last two years accounted for 32 percent of air visitors. Air Guadeloupe, reflecting steady growth since 1997, registered a 57.4 percent rise over the last year and accounted for 11 percent of air visitors.
Sea visitors recorded 23,899 arrivals, the highest since 1995. The Roseau seaport accounted for 98.4 percent of sea visitors. A 57.7 percent decrease was observed in the Portsmouth seaport over the last year. Express Des Isles was again the market leader, transporting 93.8 percent of sea visitors. Brudey Freres reflected a 195.8 percent rise over the last year.
Over the year, the months of July and October registered record high visitor arrivals of 9,828 and 9,283 respectively. For the first time since the start of the World Creole Music Festival in 1997, October recorded a higher number of visitor arrivals than the Carnival month, February/March.
Tourist arrivals numbered 73,506 reflecting a 12.2 percent increase over the year, and a record high. The rise was partly attributed to a regional and international conference during the summer. All major markets registered increases, the highest, 16.5 percent was recorded in the Caribbean market. Europe registered a 2.5 percent rise. A 51.4 percent increase was noted in the Other Caribbean category mainly as a result of exponential increase in the Haitian and Dominica Republic markets. The French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe collectively accounted for 47.3 percent of tourists arrivals from the Caribbean and increases of 16.5 percent and 5.6 percent respectively. The British Virgin Islands have reflected steady growth over the last two years.
The state of New York, which accounted for 19.7 percent of all United States tourist, recorded a 17.2 percent rise over the last period. Florida represented 10.8 percent of tourist and 21 percent increase. The third most popular state, California accounted for 6.8 percent of tourist and registered a 46.5 percent rise over the last period.
An exponential increase was observed for Ontario, Canada while a 91.2 percent decline was recorded in British Columbia.
The united Kingdom reflected an 18.9 percent rise and also accounted fro 55.3 percent of all European tourists. Percentage decreases of 19.9 percent and 18 percent were registered for Germany and France respectively. However, a notable 93.8 percent increase was registered for Sweden.
Significant increases have been observed in the Taiwanese market over the last two years, whereas the Chinese market reflected decreases over the same period.
The 4-7 day period remains the most popular length of stay for tourists. Thirty-nine percent of all tourists stayed in paid accommodations compared to 38.5 last year. The most preferred type of paid accommodation were hotels representing 47.7 percent followed by guest houses 28.1 percent. Private homes accounted for 55.8 percent of all tourists although a record high 89.5 percent of all tourists were non-nationals.
A 167.3 percent increase was recorded in excursionists for the current period following steady decreases since 1995. This increase was mainly as a result of a sharp rise in excursionists from the French West Indies.
Total passenger arrivals and departures rose 11.1 percent and 7.1 percent respectively over the last year. Sea arrivals registered a 14.8 percent increase and air arrivals a 9.5 rise.
A 17.4 percent decline was registered in cruise arrivals over the last year. This decline was mainly the result of a temporary cessation of calls by one of the main cruise vessels. The highest number of cruise arrivals were recorded in march and the most popular cruise line was Carnival Cruise.
