Saint Lucia welcomed the inaugural British Airways service from Guyana on March 27, 2023, just hours after it was introduced at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana. The new service from London Gatwick is the only non-stop flight between Guyana and the UK via Saint Lucia.
Participating in the inaugural ceremony in Guyana was a 23-member delegation led by Hon. Dr. Ernest Hilaire comprising officials from the Ministry of Tourism, The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, Private Sector Tourism partners, and the Trade and export sector.
“This flight between Guyana and Saint Lucia will help a lot in building that bind and Caribbean Unity and Togetherness. But it would also help us as we welcome visitors from Guyana and amplify multi-destination marketing,” remarked Tourism Minister Hilaire.
The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, in February, led a successful sales mission to Guyana that helped set the tone for the introduction of the flight and for immersing in the offerings of the destination. Speaking at the welcome ceremony held at the IAM Jet Center, CEO of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, Lorine Charles- St Jules expressed that this new connection would build strong links between the countries, opening gateways to new opportunities and easier access to South America.
Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce in Guyana Hon. Oneidge Walrond, joined the delegation in Saint Lucia on Monday night, signaling an important milestone for both countries with the cutting of the ribbon. Walrond noted that Saint Lucia and Guyana would not only welcome visitors from the UK and add to the demand for regional travel but would strengthen the partnership between the countries.
“The common thread of our culture and heritage all ties in together and when it comes to tourism and our tourism product, that is what this partnership is all about; finding similarities, finding synergies and marketing that to the rest of the word. This tremendous opportunity that British Airways has afforded us as a region has really opened Guyana, Saint Lucia and the region to more opportunities,” Walrond said.
The new route between London and Guyana via Saint Lucia will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays.
With the demand for regional travel and Destination Saint Lucia, British Airways began servicing Tobago via Saint Lucia on March 28, 2023. This new connection will provide travelers with convenient access to Tobago and promote tourism to both destinations.