By DIVE Staff
Tourism to St Helena, one of the main sources of income for the South Atlantic island and which was severely affected during the Covid-19 pandemic, is recovering strongly, according to the St Helena Government’s Statistics Office.
Following the lifting of restrictions in August 2022, estimates forecast that peak tourist demand for 2022/23 during October and March was likely to see around 50 per cent of the number of visitor arrivals compared to 2019/20.
The most recently available data, however, indicate demand was higher than the forecast predicted, suggesting St Helena’s tourism sector recovery is recovering more quickly than anticipated. Tourist arrivals at St Helena’s airport numbered 1,488 passengers between April ’22 and March ’23; 61 per cent of the 2019/20 total.
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Demand during the October ’22 to March ’23 high season was even stronger at 74 per cent of the same period prior to the pandemic, despite there being a reduction in flights from twice-weekly to just one per week. The return of a second weekly flight from November 2023 to February 24 is expected to provide additional opportunities to the tourism sector and Island businesses.
Tourism is the largest commercial contributor to St Helena’s economy, bringing in approximately 11 per cent of the island’s income, estimated in 2019/20 to have reached £6.6m over the year. While the 2022/23 season brought less money overall, estimates in income between £3.9m and £5.4m are greater than anticipated.
Minister for Treasury, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, Mark Brooks, said: ‘These figures paint a very encouraging picture for the Island’s fortunes after the significant impacts the pandemic has had on our economy. The Island’s future prosperity will undoubtedly be influenced by our tourism sector. To see it already bouncing back like this is therefore great news’
