As the Carnival season approaches, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is experiencing a significant surge in visitors, with tourist arrival statistics trending decidedly upwards.
Addressing the current accommodation landscape, Rodney Small confirmed that the island has officially hit 100% occupancy for its hotels.
He issued a stark update for anyone still looking for lodging, noting that individuals attempting to book a hotel or an Airbnb between the upcoming weekend and the weekend following Carnival will not be able to secure a room. Small emphasized that these occupancy statistics are not estimates, but verified facts provided directly by the hotel association and the tourism authority.
This level of early saturation is unprecedented for the island. Small highlighted that in past years, St. Vincent would not have seen 100% occupancy as early as the weekend hosting the “wet fete” event.
This shift indicates that visitors are choosing to arrive much earlier than usual. As a result of this high demand, the entire 10-day Carnival period.
Earlier this week, CDC Chairman Ricardo Adams announced that the Vincy Mas experience will begin immediately upon arrival with a full activation at the Argyle International Airport (AIA) starting on Sunday the 21st.
This welcoming initiative, which is receiving additional support from the airport’s operating entity and various sponsors, will feature live cultural performances and merchandising to immerse visitors in the festival spirit from the moment they land.
To better understand and serve these tourists, organizers will also launch a departure activation at the airport called “Promise to Come Back”. During this outbound event on Sunday the 12th, the CDC will conduct surveys to collect data on what visitors liked and disliked about their trip. This feedback will allow planners to better tailor the festival’s offerings to traveler preferences in the future.