Media Release Courtesy of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority
Friday, October 8, 2021 — To commemorate the reopening of the Canadian market, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), along with tourism stakeholders were on hand at Hewanorra International Airport to welcome Air Canada Rouge flight (1878) on Sunday, October 3rd. The return of Air Canada signals the reopening of Saint Lucia’s fourth largest international source market.
Air Canada discontinued its winter service to Saint Lucia in January 2021 during the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The first flight to Saint Lucia returns after nine months, following the Canadian Governments cancellation of all flights to Mexico and the Caribbean in February 2021.
To welcome Air Canada, a delegation led by Tourism Minister Hon. Dr. Ernest Hilaire, comprised the Chairman of the Board of Directors -Thaddeus Antoine and staff of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA), and President of the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association – Paul Collymore.
The flight landed at 2:00 p.m. bringing a combined total of 148 returning nationals and visitors to the island. A commemorative plaque was presented to Captain, Christopher Clarke, and crewmembers who disembarked to greet the delegation. Air Canada’s return service to Toronto (YYZ) departed with 51 passengers and facilitated the exportation of 2,545 pounds of fresh produce to Canada.
Air Canada will fly nonstop service from Toronto (YYZ) to Saint Lucia (UVF) once-a-week every Sunday, then increasing frequency to (2) weekly flights Friday & Sunday from October 31st. The winter schedule will include (4) weekly flights as of Christmas, December 25th (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday). Saint Lucia is also set to welcome back Westjet and Sunwing in the weeks ahead.
In 2019, Saint Lucia welcomed over 40,000 Canadian visitor arrivals to the island. Keeping the destination and the diverse Canadian market top of mind, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority will continue to drive its robust, targeted marketing and public relations campaigns in the market, creating more awareness of the destination and access routes.
ABOUT SAINT LUCIA
One of the Windward Islands of the West Indies’ Lesser Antilles, Saint Lucia, is nestled halfway down the Eastern Caribbean archipelago. Saint Lucia is known for its natural beauty and diverse attractions, including the signature Piton Mountains (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a tropical rainforest, the highly-Instagrammed mud baths at Sulphur Springs Park, and one of the world’s few drive-in volcanoes. Saint Lucia’s wide range of accommodations includes five-star hotels, all-inclusive resorts, intimate inns, and value-oriented properties. Culturally rich offerings include the bustling marketplace in the capital of Castries, quaint coastline fishing villages, and a robust calendar of annual events that attract visitors from around the globe. The destination also offers world-class cruise and yachting facilities. The island is continually recognized as one of the leading wedding and honeymoon destinations worldwide. The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority is the official destination marketing and promotion organization for Saint Lucia. Learn more at www.stlucia.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
