Saint Lucia’s tourism industry started 2026 strong, with record numbers of visitors arriving by air, cruise and yacht. The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) reports that by the end of February, 356,930 visitors had arrived – more than in 2025 or in 2019, before the pandemic.
In January and February, 76,227 people visited Saint Lucia and stayed overnight, mostly from the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.
Cruise ships brought in a historic high of 150,232 visitors in January and 120,220 in February, for a total of 270,452 so far this year. Nearly 10,000 visitors arrived by yacht.
Hotels were 72% full on average, up from 2019, and the average daily rate has almost doubled since before the pandemic.
“We remain focused and agile, while our stakeholders will be informed and positioned to maximise opportunities across the sector,” said Louis E. A. Lewis, CEO of the SLTA.
The authority pointed to the Gimies, Saint Lucia’s Tourism Awards Programme, as an example of this culture of excellence.
The fourth annual ceremony took place on April 11, during which 38 people and businesses – including hotels, tour operators, and service staff – were honoured for their outstanding service, innovation, and dedication to improving the visitor experience.
The SLTA said tourism continues to boost Saint Lucia’s economy, with increased visitor spending helping small businesses and local communities.
It plans to launch a Quarterly Tourism Impact Report to provide deeper insight into the industry’s role and will continue working on marketing, diversification and building partnerships to support growth in 2026.
