INTRODUCTION

The Tourism Industry continued to play a vital role in the economic development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  In 2006 visitor expenditure increased from EC $280.51 million in 2005 to EC $306.81 million in 2006.  This year was a historic one for the tourism industry as it recorded the first EC $300 million mark for the visitor expenditure.

Table I  Represents the level of total visitor expenditure for the period 2002 to 2006

TABLE  I               TOTAL VISITOR EXPENDITURE 2002-2006

TOTAL LEVEL OF VISITOR EXPENDITURE (EC $m)

The total visitor arrivals to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2006 was 306 578.  This figure represents a sharp increase of 19.7 percent as compared to 256 075 in 2005.  As demonstrated there was a minimal increase of only 1.9 percent by air arrivals and a noticeable increase of 32.0 percent by sea arrivals.

Table II.  Compares Visitor Arrivals by both sea and air, by the ports of         

                 entry for 2005 and 2006 

TABLE II       VISITOR AIR AND SEA ARRIVALS BY PORT OF 

                                     ENTRY 

PORT	2005
	AIR	SEA	TOTAL