As it prepares to launch a major new airport, St Vincent and the Grenadines is reporting very strong tourism growth so far in 2016, according to the government’s latest data.

The archipelago is reporting an increase in stayover arrivals of 8.2 percent, among the fastest-growing rates in the Caribbean region.

That included more than 22,000 stayover visitors in the first quarter of 2016.

The Palm Island Resort

St Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism is also showing strong growth in the yachting sector, with a 7.1 percent increase in the first quarter in yacht arrivals.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Minister Cecil McKie said he and his team were “encouraged” by the data in the first quarter and in 2015.

The country is closer to debuting a major new airport that would be its first true international airport — meaning the capacity to receive international jets rather than just regional ones.

It’s not yet clear when the opening date will be.

The post St Vincent and the Grenadines Seeing Strong Tourism Growth appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Grenada is looking to ramp up airlift to the island.

The country has announced the formation of a new Airlift Committee helmed by former chairman of the Grenada Tourism Authority, Richard Strachan.

Peter Fraser will serve as the deputy chairman of the Airlift Committee.

Other members of the committee include Chairman of the Grenada Tourism Authority Mr. Rodney George, Mrs. Wendy Francette Williams, Sir Royston Hopkin of the Spice Island Beach Resort, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and a representative from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Grenada has seen increased airlift from both American Airlines and new service from JetBlue in recent years, although it still has significant room to grow compared to many of its neighbors.

The new committee will also be responsible for improving inter-island travel, the government said.

The post Grenada to Make New Push for Increased Airlift appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A 12-count indictment was unsealed on Thursday charging four current and former Police of Puerto Rico (POPR) Caguas Drug Unit officers with civil rights violations and obstruction of justice arising out of a police operation conducted in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

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A very cool new hotel is opening soon in the Out Islands of the Bahamas: Lumina Point, and Caribbean Journal got an exclusive first look.

It’s a luxury eco-boutique hotel on Stocking Island, the beach-filled paradise off the coast of Great Exuma, and it’s also  decidedly green friendly. The hotel is slated to open in November with 12 rooms in its first phase, with plans for a total of 36 rooms. The units are hand-built bungalow-style eco-lodges, powered by solar energy but sparing no luxury.

Lumina Point, whose farm-to-table restaurant is already open and has already proven to be a draw for boaters, can run for long periods using only solar energy, although the property does have a generator.

And then there are the beaches: stunning stretches of white sand with the classic turquoise water of the Exumas.

Here’s CJ’s inside look at the hotel:

The post A Seriously Cool New Hotel Is Coming to the Bahamas appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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There are more flights coming to Guyana.

Guyana’s government has given its approval to Dutch Caribbean carrier InselAir to operate additional scheduled services from Curacao.

InselAir was first granted approval to operate daily scheduled services between Guyana and Curacao in April 2014.

The new approval will allow thrice-weekly scheduled flights between Curacao, Guyaan and Boa Vista, Brazil.

The scheduled flights will begin on July 3, on an 80-person aircraft.

Guyana Minister of State Joseph Harmon said the flights would help improve connectivity between Guyana and neighboring Brazil.

The post More Flights Coming to Guyana appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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