By Val Matthias. Updated 10:20 a.m., Friday, October 23, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), is projecting a 44 percent increase in cruise passenger arrivals during the 2026-2027 cruise season, with the government anticipating about 344,000 passengers from 355 cruise ship calls.
The projection was disclosed by Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Sustainable Development Dr Kishore Shallow in the House of Assembly on Thursday.
The projected 344,000 passengers would represent an increase of about 105,000 over the estimated 239,000 cruise passengers recorded during the 2025-2026 season, when 246 cruise ships called at the destination.
But the sharp increase is also bringing greater demands on the country’s tourism infrastructure.
Shallow said, “larger vessels are creating new infrastructure demands,” highlighting the need for continued investment and strategic planning as the cruise sector expands.
The projected increase also comes against a recent period of fluctuating cruise arrivals.
In the 2024-2025 season, SVG recorded approximately 247,000 cruise passengers from 231 ship calls.
The government says the Ministry of Tourism and the St Vincent, and the Grenadines Tourism Authority are strengthening relationships with cruise lines and working to improve the country’s competitiveness within the regional cruise market.
Shallow said the government’s focus is on “expanding opportunities in the sector, while ensuring that the benefits of tourism continue to reach Vincentians throughout the country.”
The latest projection therefore points to a significant expansion of cruise tourism, while the government’s acknowledgement of new infrastructure demands raises questions about how SVG will accommodate larger vessels and substantially higher passenger numbers while ensuring that the economic benefits are spread across the country.
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About the Author: This story was written and submitted by freelance journalist Mr. Val Matthias, a trained communicator with more than two decades in the media sector. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication (UWI Mona), a Master of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management (UWI Cave Hill), a Certificate in Digital Marketing, and has years of broadcast journalism experience rising to ranks of a programme manager. All supporting materials for this story have been presented, vetted, and verified. Mr Matthias can be reached at valmatthias188@gmail.com
