Figures supplied by the St. Lucia Tourist Board show a 'significant growth in arrivals' thanks largely to a 43 per cent increase from the USA over the same period last year.
The rise in tourism has been matched by a growing volume of enquiries for St Lucia properties for sale.
Ollie Gobat, sales director of The Landings St Lucia property development, says: “Buyers are reassured that St Lucia is a stable economy, is easily accessible with direct flights from the UK, and the island has not suffered from an oversupply of property, like other countries, that de-stabilises the market.St Lucia will always be popular because of the exceptional lifestyle on offer and the fact that it's a safe place to invest in property.”
The increase in arrivals is partly due to an improvement in airlift to the island from the UK and US which according to official statistics has increased from 9,000 airline seats last year to 24,000 seats for 2010.
British Airways increased their direct flights from Gatwick to St Lucia from three to five times per week at the end of 2009 and there is also a new service from New York with Jet Blue.
Another surprising reason for the increase is the airing of US TV reality show The Bachelor, which was filmed in St Lucia.
Allen Chastanet, Minister of Tourism said: “Before the airing of the reality television shows the average number of hits for the SLTB website was 5,000 daily, but that figure has risen to 68,000.”
To read our guide on buying property in St Lucia, click here.