Grenada records 12.5% decline in stayover arrivals in early 2025

Grenada has recorded a 12.5 percent decline in stayover arrivals during the first five months of 2025, with officials attributing the drop to both international and regional challenges.

- Advertisement -

The figures were presented by Policy Analyst in the Ministry of Finance, Ciera Duncan, during the St. Patrick Budget Consultation last Monday. She noted that stayover arrivals from all major markets — including the United States, Europe, and Canada — registered significant reductions. Caribbean arrivals saw the sharpest fall, down 16.6 percent compared to the same period in 2024.

“What we see is that there were tremendous declines in the first five months of the year,” Duncan said. “This has resulted in an overall 12.5% decline in overall stayover arrivals as compared to the first five months of 2024. Caribbean stayover arrivals are a bit disheartening.”

Duncan pointed to high airlift costs and limited direct flights between regional destinations as key challenges for Caribbean arrivals, while also citing broader international economic developments.

She explained that the first quarter of 2024 had benefitted from stronger conditions, including Grenada’s 50th Independence celebrations, the CARIFTA Games, and a more stable economic climate. Hurricane Beryl, which struck in 2025, has also compounded difficulties in the tourism sector.

Despite the downturn, Duncan expressed cautious optimism, noting that upcoming activities such as Carnival and the winter tourism season could help offset the decline by the end of the year. “We are hopeful that the second half of 2025 will reflect an overall improvement,” she said.