- Strong tourism demand
- Miles of white sandy beaches
- Tropical Caribbean paradise
- 200,000 increase in arrivals forecaset
- Government backed development strategy
- Easily accessible from the UK
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Tourism
Tourism - The Past
The tourism industry is growing fast and the Caribbean as a whole continues to grow as a popular destination. Grenada is well placed to capitalise on this growth, in fact the World Travel and Tourism Council recorded 400,000 visitors in 2006 and forecasts international arrivals to Grenada will reach 600,000 by 2016 with Travel and Tourism activity growing by 2.8% per year between 2008 and 2017. These predictions are based solely on organic demand and do not take into account the additional demand that will be gained by new resorts and increased airlift. The Grenada Tourist board show that stay-over arrivals grew 24% between Q3 2005 and Q3 2006. Q3 2007 figures show that visitor figures were the highest in Grenada’s history.
The market for 4 and 5 star hotels is the fastest growing tourism sector and so the Grenadian government has focused its development strategy to deliver properties to this standardTourism - The Future
Despite government targets to offer 2,700 hotel rooms in the island, there are still currently only 1,700, and less than half of these are of a 3-star standard or higher. The market for 4 and 5 star hotels is the fastest growing tourism sector and so the Grenadian government has focused its development strategy to deliver properties to this standard. As a result, demand for high quality accommodation significantly outstrips supply
Location & Getting there
Located in the eastern Caribbean at the southern extremity of the Windward Islands, Grenada is North of Trinidad and Tobago and south of St Vincent & the Grenadines (easily accessible as a day trip). With 133 square miles of mountainous terrain,reachingheights of over 2,750 square feet atop Mount St. Catherine, Grenadais a verdant island of outstanding natural beauty complete with swathes of white sandy beaches.
Grenada is closer than you think. The island is accessible from North America, other Caribbean islands and Europe with 16separate airlines servingGrenada’s Point Salines International Airport. Scheduled flights from the UK are available with Virgin Atlantic and Grenada is a verdant island of outstanding natural beauty complete with swathes of white sandy beachesBritish Airways and can be purchased from £300.
Food and drink
The flavours in Caribbean cuisine are inventive and daring, and dining is as alluring as the endlessly blue waters and peaceful sands. Whether you are enjoying the heat of a traditional West Indian dish or sipping a fruity cocktail made with a smooth local rum, foodand drink in the Caribbean are an integral part of the experience. Most dishes that you will enjoy will be prepared almost wholly from local ingredients.
Language and culture
Grenadian people speak Standard English, Grenadian English and a French African patois. Only the older people speak French patois and it has nearly died out. You are most likely to come across it in the rural areas. Grenadian dialect also has many French words. Puzzled by some grammar? If you know any French and you translate it directly then you will be able to understand. Some of the pronunciation of French words is from 200 years ago and even some of the English dates from Shakespearian times.
Grenada, and especially Carriacou is full of folklore. Many of the traditional customs are dying out, thanks to TV and more recently Cable TV but if you are lucky you may catch a moonlit cook-up with storytelling of Anancy the spider trickster (from West Africa) and tales of the 'La Diablesse' (devil-woman), Ligaroo (Loupgaroux means werewolf in French) and many other supernatural events and characters.