📊 Key Headlines
Stay-Over Arrivals (Jan–May 2026)
54,810
▲ +10.7% vs 2025
Total Visitors 2025 (Full Year)
407,831
▲ +5.8% vs 2024
Stay-Over Growth 2025
+17.4%
120,599 visitors
US Market Share (2025)
49.9%
▲ +38.4% vs 2024
Cruise Arrivals (Jan–May 2026)
157,702
▼ -5.4% vs 2025
Delta Airlines
Discontinued
Was #2 carrier Q1 2026
Total Arrivals by Type — 2024 vs 2025
Stay-Over Monthly Trend — 2026 vs 2025
⚠ Delta Airlines data appears in Q1 2026 and carrier statistics as historical data. Delta has since discontinued SVG operations. This gap in US airlift capacity requires attention.
📈 Full Year Performance — 2025 vs 2024
Stay-Over 2025
120,599
▲ +17.4%
Cruise 2025
244,390
▲ +2.6%
Yacht 2025
42,434
▼ -3.8%
Total 2025
407,831
▲ +5.8%
Total Arrivals by Category — 2024 vs 2025
2025 Visitor Mix
Total Visitor Arrivals — 2025 vs 2024
| Visitor Type | 2025 | 2024 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stay-Over (Air) | 120,599 | 102,766 | +17,833 | +17.4% |
| Same-Day | 408 | 362 | +46 | +12.7% |
| Cruise Ship | 244,390 | 238,300 | +6,090 | +2.6% |
| Yacht | 42,434 | 44,106 | -1,672 | -3.8% |
| TOTAL | 407,831 | 385,534 | +22,297 | +5.8% |
► Stay-over visitors grew 17.4% in 2025 — the strongest growth category. Total arrivals exceeded 407,000 for the first time, driven by improved US airlift and diaspora demand.
🌍 Stay-Over Arrivals by Source Market — 2025 Full Year
Market Share 2025
Top Markets — 2024 vs 2025
Stay-Over Arrivals by Market — 2025 vs 2024
| Market | 2025 | 2024 | Change | % Change | 2025 Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 60,182 | 43,469 | +16,713 | +38.4% | 49.9% |
| Caribbean | 23,477 | 21,988 | +1,489 | +6.7% | 19.5% |
| Europe | 21,160 | 21,458 | -298 | -1.3% | 17.5% |
| Canada | 12,671 | 12,116 | +555 | +4.6% | 10.5% |
| South America | 1,348 | 1,474 | -126 | -8.5% | 1.1% |
| Other | 1,761 | 2,261 | -500 | -22.1% | 1.5% |
| TOTAL | 120,599 | 102,766 | +17,833 | +17.4% | 100% |
► USA accounts for nearly 50% of all stay-over arrivals. Europe is the only major region in contraction. Canada shows steady growth despite smaller volume.
✈️ Carrier Performance — Full Year 2025 vs 2024
Carrier Market Share 2025
Top Carriers — 2024 vs 2025
Stay-Over Arrivals by Carrier — 2025 vs 2024
| Carrier | 2025 | 2024 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 36,850 | 24,728 | +12,122 | +49.0% |
| Caribbean Airlines | 20,707 | 22,676 | -1,969 | -8.7% |
| JetBlue | 11,431 | 2,727 | +8,704 | +319.2% |
| Virgin Atlantic | 11,360 | 10,937 | +423 | +3.9% |
| Air Canada | 8,979 | 9,431 | -452 | -4.8% |
| Inter Caribbean Airways | 8,791 | 11,994 | -3,203 | -26.7% |
| Air Adelphi | 6,897 | 3,012 | +3,885 | +129.0% |
| Charter Flights | 5,173 | 12,888 | -7,715 | -59.9% |
| LIAT | 2,774 | 287 | +2,487 | +866.6% |
| Sunrise Airways | 1,794 | 288 | +1,506 | +522.9% |
► American Airlines grew 49%, JetBlue 319%. LIAT and Sunrise Airways both grew dramatically from very small bases, indicating returning regional connectivity.
🏝️ Visitor Arrivals by Port of Entry — 2024 vs 2025
Air Arrivals by Island — 2024 vs 2025
Sea Arrivals by Island — 2024 vs 2025
Visitor Arrivals by Port of Entry — 2024 vs 2025
| Port | Air 2024 | Air 2025 | Air % | Sea 2024 | Sea 2025 | Sea % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Vincent (Argyle) | 87,694 | 107,991 | +23.1% | 207,534 | 212,105 | +2.2% |
| Bequia | 2,652 | 2,236 | -15.7% | 52,660 | 51,606 | -2.0% |
| Mustique | 7,565 | 7,840 | +3.6% | 414 | 450 | +8.7% |
| Canouan | 3,079 | 2,546 | -17.3% | 3,294 | 4,709 | +43.0% |
| Union Island | 2,138 | 394 | -81.6% | 18,504 | 17,954 | -3.0% |
► Argyle International Airport grew 23.1%. Union Island's 81.6% air decline reflects Hurricane Beryl recovery. Canouan sea arrivals surged 43% — emerging marine destination.
Air Arrivals by Port of Entry by Market — May 2026
| Market | St. Vincent | Mustique | Canouan | Union Island | Bequia | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 5,083 | 127 | 106 | 1 | 10 | 5,327 |
| Canada | 601 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 621 |
| Europe | 899 | 184 | 48 | 1 | 60 | 1,192 |
| Caribbean | 1,589 | 22 | 29 | 0 | 12 | 1,652 |
| South America | 95 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 102 |
| Other | 110 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 123 |
| TOTAL | 8,377 | 348 | 202 | 2 | 88 | 9,017 |
► Argyle handles 93% of all air arrivals. Mustique draws European visitors disproportionately (184 of 348). Union Island and Bequia depend almost entirely on sea arrivals.
🎯 Purpose of Visit — May 2026
Purpose of Visit — USA
Purpose of Visit — Caribbean
Stay-Over Visitors by Purpose of Visit — May 2026
| Market | Pleasure | Business | Yacht | VFR* | Study/Sport | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 3,587 | 266 | 311 | 1,055 | 105 | 5,324 |
| Canada | 225 | 54 | 20 | 295 | 27 | 621 |
| Europe | 786 | 82 | 63 | 251 | 10 | 1,192 |
| Caribbean | 486 | 600 | 25 | 461 | 39 | 1,611 |
| South America | 34 | 49 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 102 |
| Other | 57 | 38 | 0 | 17 | 11 | 123 |
*VFR = Visiting Friends and Relatives
► Caribbean visitors are disproportionately business travellers — 600 of 1,611 (37%). US visitors are primarily leisure (67%) and VFR (20%). These differences require different marketing strategies.
🛏️ Length of Stay — May 2026
Average Length of Stay by Market (days)
Stay Duration Distribution — USA
Stay-Over Visitors by Length of Stay — May 2026
| Market | 1–3 Days | 4–7 Days | 8–14 Days | 15+ Days | Total | Avg Stay (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 316 | 3,317 | 1,311 | 380 | 5,324 | 14.31 |
| Canada | 19 | 246 | 266 | 90 | 621 | 23.38 |
| Europe | 99 | 368 | 561 | 164 | 1,192 | 17.02 |
| Caribbean | 276 | 763 | 454 | 118 | 1,611 | 10.89 |
| South America | 23 | 31 | 12 | 36 | 102 | 33.66 |
| Other | 25 | 35 | 16 | 47 | 123 | 36.46 |
| TOTAL | — | — | — | — | 8,973 | 15.21 |
► Canadian and South American visitors stay significantly longer (23.4 and 33.7 days avg). These represent high-value markets despite smaller volumes. US visitors average 14.3 days — the bulk (62%) stay 4–7 days.
📋 Q1 2026 — January to March Performance
Stay-Over Q1 2026
34,959
▲ +12.8%
Cruise Q1 2026
142,362
▼ -2.7%
Yacht Q1 2026
19,053
▲ +5.1%
Total Q1 2026
196,513
▲ +0.5%
Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025 — Arrivals by Type
Q1 Average Length of Stay by Market (days)
Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025 — All Visitor Types
| Visitor Type | Q1 2026 | Q1 2025 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stay-Over | 34,959 | 30,987 | +3,972 | +12.8% |
| Same-Day | 139 | 145 | -6 | -4.1% |
| Yacht | 19,053 | 18,124 | +929 | +5.1% |
| Cruise Ship | 142,362 | 146,372 | -4,010 | -2.7% |
| TOTAL | 196,513 | 195,628 | +885 | +0.5% |
✈️ Q1 2026 Carrier Performance
⚠ Delta Airlines carried 4,853 passengers in Q1 2026 before discontinuing SVG operations. This data is retained as historical reference only.
Q1 2026 Carrier Volume
Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025 — Key Carriers
Q1 2026 Carrier Performance vs Q1 2025
| Carrier | Q1 2026 | Q1 2025 | Change | % Change | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 8,213 | 9,722 | -1,509 | -15.5% | Largest carrier |
| Delta Airlines ⚠ | 4,853 | N/A | +4,853 | NEW | Discontinued |
| Air Canada | 3,407 | 2,778 | +629 | +22.6% | |
| Caribbean Airlines | 3,669 | 3,975 | -306 | -7.7% | |
| Virgin Atlantic | 3,086 | 3,328 | -242 | -7.3% | |
| Air Adelphi | 2,858 | 2,021 | +837 | +41.4% | Regional |
| Inter Caribbean Airways | 2,576 | 1,991 | +585 | +29.4% | Regional |
► Air Adelphi (+41.4%) and Inter Caribbean Airways (+29.4%) are the fastest-growing carriers in Q1 2026 — improving regional connectivity. US-origin arrivals overall grew 24.1% in Q1 2026 despite American Airlines' schedule reduction.
📅 Monthly Breakdown — January to May 2026
Monthly Stay-Over Arrivals — 2026 vs 2025
Monthly Yacht Arrivals — 2026 vs 2025
Monthly Cruise Arrivals — 2026 vs 2025
Monthly Arrivals — All Types (2026 vs 2025)
| Month | Stay-Over 2026 | Stay-Over 2025 | % | Yacht 2026 | Yacht 2025 | % | Cruise 2026 | Cruise 2025 | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11,243 | 10,045 | +11.9% | 5,311 | 6,297 | -15.7% | 61,226 | 57,952 | +5.6% |
| February | 10,864 | 9,745 | +11.5% | 7,290 | 6,116 | +19.2% | 44,767 | 40,218 | +11.3% |
| March | 12,852 | 11,197 | +14.8% | 6,452 | 5,711 | +13.0% | 36,369 | 48,202 | -24.5% |
| April | 10,878 | 10,312 | +5.5% | 3,766 | 3,822 | -1.5% | 15,044 | 20,265 | -25.8% |
| May | 8,973 | 8,222 | +9.1% | 2,364 | 2,574 | -8.2% | 296 | 154 | +92.2% |
| JAN–MAY TOTAL | 54,810 | 49,521 | +10.7% | 25,183 | 24,520 | +2.7% | 157,702 | 166,791 | -5.4% |
► Stay-over arrivals grew every single month. Cruise decline in March/April is seasonal — consistent with the Caribbean cruise calendar winding down post-winter. Cruise in May is minimal and the small base creates a misleading % change.
🌍 Stay-Over by Source Market — January to May 2026
Top Markets — Jan–May 2026 vs 2025
Jan–May 2026 Market Mix
Stay-Over Arrivals by Country — January to May 2026
| Country / Region | Jan–May 2026 | Jan–May 2025 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 30,031 | 24,521 | +5,510 | +22.5% |
| United Kingdom | 7,611 | 8,111 | -500 | -6.2% |
| Canada | 6,115 | 5,513 | +602 | +10.9% |
| Trinidad | 2,231 | 2,324 | -93 | -4.0% |
| Barbados | 1,981 | 1,839 | +142 | +7.7% |
| Other Caribbean | 1,571 | 1,773 | -202 | -11.4% |
| Other Europe | 620 | 663 | -43 | -6.5% |
| France | 332 | 324 | +8 | +2.5% |
| Germany | 320 | 277 | +43 | +15.5% |
| South America | 460 | 569 | -109 | -19.2% |
| St. Lucia | 777 | 667 | +110 | +16.5% |
| Grenada | 688 | 688 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Italy | 229 | 215 | +14 | +6.5% |
| Switzerland | 197 | 171 | +26 | +15.2% |
| Sweden | 178 | 198 | -20 | -10.1% |
| Spain | 104 | 123 | -19 | -15.4% |
| Netherlands | 102 | 161 | -59 | -36.6% |
| Norway | 81 | 54 | +27 | +50.0% |
| Ireland | 66 | 84 | -18 | -21.4% |
| Belgium | 30 | 41 | -11 | -26.8% |
| Other | 644 | 716 | -72 | -10.1% |
| TOTAL | 54,810 | 49,521 | +5,289 | +10.7% |
► USA growing strongly (+22.5%). UK declining (-6.2%). St. Lucia up +16.5%. Germany and Switzerland showing positive European momentum. Netherlands down -36.6% — worth monitoring.
🏝️ Air Arrivals by Port of Entry — May 2026
Port Share — May 2026 Air Arrivals
Arrivals by Market per Port — May 2026
💡 Key Observations & Investment Implications
Positive Trends
| # | Observation | Data Point |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air stay-over arrivals on consistent upward trajectory | +17.4% FY2025; +10.7% Jan–May 2026 |
| 2 | USA dominates — and continues to grow | 49.9% share; +38.4% FY2025; +22.5% Jan–May 2026 |
| 3 | JetBlue structural airlift shift | +319.2% in 2025 |
| 4 | Regional connectivity improving | Air Adelphi +41.4%; Inter Caribbean +29.4% Q1 2026 |
| 5 | Long average stays — high value visitors | Canada 23.4 days; South America 33.7 days avg |
| 6 | Total arrivals exceed 407,000 for first time | 407,831 in 2025 |
| 7 | Canouan sea arrivals surging | +43.0% in 2025 |
Areas of Caution
| # | Concern | Data Point |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delta Airlines departure — US airlift gap | 4,853 Q1 2026 passengers — now discontinued |
| 2 | Cruise arrivals softening | -2.7% Q1 2026; -5.4% Jan–May 2026 |
| 3 | UK and European markets declining | UK -6.2% Jan–May 2026; Europe -1.3% FY2025 |
| 4 | Union Island air arrivals severely impacted | -81.6% in 2025 — Beryl recovery ongoing |
| 5 | Netherlands down sharply | -36.6% Jan–May 2026 |
Investment & Commercial Implications
| Implication | Basis |
|---|---|
| Hotel and resort investment commercially justified — demand outpacing supply | Sustained stay-over growth with limited new accommodation |
| US-focused hospitality positioning is highest-opportunity strategy | 49.9% share; growing fast; long stays |
| Longer-stay products (Canada, Europe, South America) support premium positioning | Avg stays of 17–36 days in these markets |
| Proactive US carrier engagement needed to replace Delta capacity | ~4,853 passengers per quarter at risk |
| Union Island recovery investment needed to restore air connectivity | Air arrivals down 81.6% post-Beryl |