The Caribbean Tourism Organization staged a series of virtual chats with destination representatives again on Wednesday. Here's a look at some of the highlights.
Saint Lucia
Visitation levels in July and August exceeded pre-pandemic 2019 levels, officials said. There are new chocolate tours and workshops that visitors can enjoy. The town of Anse La Raye, where they hold a regular, popular, fish fry, has a new town square and new waterfront restaurants and bars. Cabot Saint Lucia, a resort and golf course from the folks behind Cabot Resort and golf courses in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, is coming along nicely and looks positively stunning. The golf course and resort are scheduled to open in late 2022. Air Canada flights to the island will begin October 3, while Sunwing will start service November 6 and WestJet November 7.
Dominica
This is an island that's brimming with wonderful nature spots including waterfalls, natural warm pools and hiking trails. New properties have come on line, including a posh Kempinski on the northwest corner of the island. A high-end Marriott is under construction. Tourism officials say they expect more than 200 cruise stops this season. There are no direct flights from Canada, but American Airlines is adding flights from Miami to Dominica in December, which gives Canadians another option for reaching a beautiful Caribbean island that's famous for its nature. You also can fly to Dominica from Barbados and other Caribbean destinations.
Grenada
This island chain, famous for its nature, spices and chocolate, was named the world's first culinary capital earlier this year by the World Food and Travel Association. The honour also includes the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique. A new Royalton Hotel is slated to open in November with 269 rooms and two white sand beaches. The Spice Island Resort on Grand Anse Beach also is coming soon. Air Canada flights are slated to begin later this year.
Anguilla
The island is now a Virtuoso partner. Air Canada Vacations has included five Anguilla properties in its winter offerings for this year. Aurora Anguilla Resort and Golf Club, formerly the Cuisinart Resort, will open in November of 2021 with 178 suites, seven restaurants and bars and a Michelin starred chef from New York. The golf course also has been renovated. Long Bay villas also have been refurbished and where featured on the Netflix show, "The World's Most Amazing Vacations Rentals." New owners have renovated and reopened the Arawak Beach Club.The first-ever Anguilla Culinary Experience will be in May of next year. There are no direct flights from Canada, but the island will get its first-ever direct connection to the mainland USA in December when flights begin from Miami with American Airlines.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Travel and Leisure readers named St. Vincent and the Grenadines the best island in the Caribbean for their 2021 poll. SVG tourism officials say they expect 224 cruise stops this season. A Beaches Resort is coming to the island of St. Vincent, said to be the first in the eastern Caribbean. There's also a new Marriott on the way. All told, 1,200 new rooms are expected in the next two years. Most hotels have reopened since the island's volcano eruption earlier this year. The SVG virtual road show for Canada is October 6. Their new website, www.discoversvg.com, should launch soon. Air Canada Rouge service will start November 1.
Trinidad
This is a Caribbean destination with a cosmopolitan nature, thanks to immigrants from Europe, Asia, India, the Middle East, Africa, South America and more. Of course, there's also lovely nature and beautiful beaches. The island is popular for sporting events and business/MICE travel. Air Canada flights from Toronto will start November 11. Caribbean Airlines flies from Toronto three days a week now.
Montserrat
Visitors will find improved beach facilities, trail upgrades, an upgraded airport and new spa services. There's also a new volcano interpretive centre and a new Montserrat Football Association Hotel for sports teams and events. They have a new website as well, www.visitmontserrat.com. Their annual Carnival runs December 17 to January 1.
Tobago
This island is home to one of the world's largest reefs, and their beaches have 42 types of sand. Tobago has the first highest number of bird species and 23 types of non-venomous snakes. Sustainability is a big part of the appeal of the island. Two properties, the Bananaquit Hotel and Shepherd's Inn, are Green Key certified. A tourism official said they're the only two hotels in the English-speaking Caribbean with Green Key status.
St. Kitts
Celebrity Equinox was in port yesterday, with more than 1,000 folks on the island. Tourism officials don't expect to get back to 2019 cruise levels in the next couple years, however. The CDC in the U.S. moved St. Kitts from level 3 to level four this week because of concerns over COVID. Direct flights from Toronto on Air Canada should start November 7.
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