SLTB Goes After C’bean Tourists – Trinidad, French Islands Specifically Targeted

THE St.Lucia Tourist Board continues to build excitement and spur interest in an attempt to further revitaliize the Caribbean market.

The SLTB has just wrapped up its latest series of promotions in Trinidad that culminated with a grand ‘Saint Lucia Exposé’ at one of the leading malls in the twin island Republic – Trincity Mall. In addition to the mall promotions, a media blitz took place with multiple interviews to promote the destination on radio and TV and a series of sales calls to travel agents in the South of Trinidad.

Eight Saint Lucian-based hotels partnered with the Tourist Board as part of the marketing extravaganza. Working alongside Trinidadian based travel agents, hundreds of consumers who attended the marketing expo were offered the opportunity to win several prizes as part of the promotion.

In the end one lucky attendee, GenelleBellille of Mt. St. George, Tobago walked away with the grand prize of a trip for two to St. Lucia which included tickets for two on Caribbean Airlines, two nights all-inclusive stay for two at the Body Holiday and complimentary airport transfers. The Body Holiday and Caribbean Airlines were the proud sponsors of this Grand Prize.

Participating hotels included Marigot Bay Beach Club, The Body Holiday, Bay Gardens Resorts, Smugglers Cove, Alize Inn, Habitat Terrace, Coco Palm and Coconut Bay.

Head of Marketing at the SLTB and Deputy Director of Tourism Tracey Warner-Arnold said: “The latest promotion, which also includes activities in Martinique and Guadeloupe is all part of the overall marketing strategy to continue to generate arrivals from the Caribbean market.”

That market according to Warner-Arnold, “continues to be a key market segment for visitor arrivals to Saint Lucia. These strategic interventions serve to educate our Caribbean consumers who still travel to Saint Lucia and also to maintain top of mind awareness in the marketplace.”

A series of sales calls were also done on the yachting community in Martinique with marina officials and boat charter companies. The intent is to increase the number of yacht calls in that market and pursue strategic partnerships.

The Caribbean market represents the third largest market segment for the island bringing in an average of 58,000 stay over arrivals annually. Last year, that market grew by 8%. At the end of September this year, Saint Lucia had already welcomed 42,000 Caribbean visitors, the largest percentages of whom were from Martinique and Trinidad.