Grenada Tourism Authority welcomes the resumption of UK-based flight services to Grenada. The announcement of the recommencement of flights comes as Grenada became one of the recent additions to England’s green list.
Virgin Atlantic will resume flights from 16 July from London Heathrow via Barbados each week on Monday and Friday and British Airways will restart operations to Grenada on 21 July, operating 2 flights per week, from London Gatwick to Grenada via Antigua, every Wednesday and Saturday.
This announcement has been met with great enthusiasm by tourism stakeholders who are eagerly anticipating the return of the UK flight schedule as it allows travellers multiple weekly opportunities to come, see and experience Grenada, famed for its aromatic spices, organic chocolate and unforgettable dive sites. The tri-island destination offers the perfect haven for foodies and diving enthusiasts.
Barry Collymore Chairman of Grenada Tourism Authority said, “We’re delighted that these 2 airlines are restarting their services to Grenada in July, and we’d like to thank them for their continued commitment to our islands. We’re looking forward to welcoming travellers from the UK and with the stringent safety measures we have in place, including the full vaccination of over 90% of our tourism employees — travellers can safely enjoy all that Grenada has to offer.”
With just 162 cases of Covid-19 since the onset of the pandemic, the tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique is ready to welcome UK visitors back to its beautiful islands.
Grenada Tourism Authority
In regards to the first comments, I agree customer service in many places needs fixing. Unfortunately business owners don’t seem to notice the issue it’s as though inadequate customer service is the norm!
I must say on my current visit I have experienced some great service, when that’s received it makes you want to spend more with those business places.
Some serious training is needed as soon as possible as first impressions last.
The improvements will benefit us all.
Can I mention when the plane landed I was hesitant as to what to expect with all the Covid business, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised with the way things were handled, clear instructions with calmness and manners throughout.
Barbados was also decent, staff were calm and pleasant. It is a bit much to have to go through immigration only to collect your bags and check in again, albeit with another airline which did take a long time waiting around. But unlike Grenada there is plenty choice of places to eat and drink with helpful and friendly staff.
So the tourism industry has started in earnest. What does that mean for us, who reside abroad? but returning to our homes after a long spell away. We are the ones who need to call on our local men and women, who are NOT employed by the tourism industry.
We need our houses repairing, our burst pipes mended, electricity fixing, our gardens tended to, we have much shopping to do, we wish to meet and greet our friends. Yes we wish to say THANK GOD and THANK YOU GRENADA. You have been wonderful being here for us to return to. You have been safe haven fighting to protect its citizens not only from the Covid virus but from fatal violence-the one reported murder. Although, through MY lack of knowledge this perceived safety cannot be extended to include domestic abuse and violence.
But as citizens who choose to return home, we shall be returning again and again, not just once as 99% of your tourists. So we should and we would wish to be welcomed at the airport , treated with the respect we deserve in other words like you treat the tourists, we too need the offer of rum and coke, rum punch or bottle of iced- cold water. The tourists who have already paid their all inclusive expenses and are treated exceptionally well and so they should be. In my opinion, they make very little difference to the local folks who are not employed by the hospitality sector.
We locals residing or had resided abroad, on the other hand understand our culture, our people our poverty. So what if we wish to bring a shirt for our nephews, or a bra and panty for our nieces or a second hand cell phone for someone we appreciated and who looked after our homes while we were away….we were practically banned from returning? Instead we are disrespected for trying to support our own. We are left to stand in queues as though we are entering Grenada with our begging bowls. Our luggage are searched as though we are criminals, as drug kartels. All these actions are to keep the poor poorer because we won’t be bringing any shirts, knickers bras or the odd cell phone or watch for our loved ones and they are unlikely to afford to buy them; so who are the losers? Neither the government nor the local citizens are gaining anything from these useless scrutiny of its returnees,
So do us a favour, do your job well. Treat us with the respect and courtesy you afford the tourists, we have been away for a very longtime, we have sat in a confined and congested space for approximately ten hours we are overwhelmed by the confusion of the costly Covid virus environment .Don’t keep us waiting in a long queue. Our cases are unlikely to hold illegal substances.
Doing your job well does not mean the maximum harassment you can inflict on your passengers.
Thank you
Grenada is our Garden paradise. Let us cultivate our garden to its full potential. Then joyfully watch it bloom and grow. ‘ Watch that’
Howrver I have this to say.
Honestly, Grenadian customer service relations is 0%. There is so much to learn in this area. Importany positive condtructive skills in personal and social development and its application is lacking:. For example; communications, service delivery, compassion, socicultural awareness, body language, reasoning, underdtanding, information sharing , kindness, patience, tollarance, anger mansgement: these are all marketable skills that enchance accommodating public relations.
Additionally it bigs up sales, services and positive reputation of our country as a whole.
Grenada forward up the Inter/Social/Multi-cultura Education. We are an island but we are not in absoloute isolation. We have invited the world, its family and relations into our personal space. Its the 21st centuty and service delivery inclusive in tourism is oour bread and butter. Accourding to the words of our minister of tourism, ‘you cannot bite the hand that feeds you’.
Have a nice day Grenada.
Love you much, that’s why I took time out to highlight some of the major weaknesses in our bus.iness.
Love in action – Forward ever in good and bad times. Blessings always.
Thank you for your observation on customer service, you have hit the nail on the head!
Nice beaches and spices, cannot sell themselves, the Grenadians have to learn that with the human services and good attitudes they could add value to their, Sun, Sea and Spices
My friend and I flew out to Grenada via Barbados on Sat 30th June 2021 ie last Saturday. We give Heathrow and Virgin 10 out of ten, 5 stars for their calmness, efficiency, safety etc. We boarded in small batches. Plane half full to allow for ‘distancing.’ Passengers we’re asked to check for green light when toilets were vacant and not to queue in aisles. We were given adequate/double bottles of water wine etc to reduce the contact with flight attendants. Lunch and tea were served with speed and efficiency.
All was brilliant until we landed in Barbados. BA had booked disabled assistance but I was told they didn’t have a wheelchair and another gentleman’s needs were greater than mine, so I walked. Despite completing the Pre-Arrival form on line with passport photo, proof of vaccinations and negative I’ve Covid, that form was never Asked for. Instead we sanitised our hands 8 times, showed our passport 6 times, finally told to go and reclaim suitcases from carousel, go out onto the public pavement, mingle with waiting relatives, taxi drivers etc and drag case 200 yards to InterCaribbean desk where we sanitised our hands and showed the documents again. Intransit passengers are not meant to. Mingle with the public roadside. We then walked another 200 yds to Gate 9 and walked some more on tarmac to plane. We sank into our seats and thanked God when we took off! ….counting the days until we have to do it all again!
By contrast my. English friend said how impressed she was with Grenada arrival. She says she felt welcomed, they checked Passport, pre-arrival form with proof of Covid vaccine and negative result then sent us for Covid test. Had to show passport to Immig Officer, then go to Customs where we did not get such a nice welcome but it was ok. Then went out to our allocated Gov Approved taxi. We landed at 19.15 and we were in our room at blue Horizon before 21.00. Full marks to Grenada arrivals is what my Friend and I say. We received a negative result at 20.30 on Wednesday, so exactly 48 hrs. I gather some results are coming through in 24 hours.
I was glad to have company for my 2 days Quarantine at Blue Horizon. We had a kitchen, living room and balcony. The height of our excitement was choosing 3 meals a day for which there was no additional charge for room service. Our only negative comment was breakfast was served from 9, but normal hours will resume as guests increase – hopefully. Resumption of direct flights will make a HUGE difference. Please come and help the furloughed hotel staff etc etc.
Diane thank you for taking the time to share your experience, I appreciate it.
Sorry to hear the Barbados connection was so poor an experience for you. Nine months ago when I was in Barbados the service was very professional and the Bajan were kind and friendly.
Thanks for the insight about the test and quarantine, as much as I think that its all a total waste of time and resources, its helpful to know whats in store.
Hopefully soon as more truth start coming out about the over reaction to this Corona Virus, we can get back to living our luves free of meddling bureaucrats. Thanks for sharing for recent experience.
This is a comment for the current chair of the Grenada Tourist board Mr Barry Collymore and it is this , can you confirm that your recent statement re the commencement of flights in July 2021 from London England to Grenada by both BA and Virgin Atlantic airline is up to date as listed, because I have seen a more up to date details that this may not be so,
Just asking.
Glad to know Virgin and British Airways who in my bad books after cancelling 4 or 5 of my flights in 2020 and messing me up big time….are returning in July 2021.
Its bad enough that it normally takes an hour to clear Grenada Immigration for a small flight …..so what is the wait time with these useless PCR tests and quarantine? One ….two … three hours?
I was in Barbados in Auguat 2020, and their staff were absolutely first class They calmly listened to all my grips and complaints and yet were very kind and considerate. Even got Coffee and Sandwiches for the passengers, while we waited for tssts and Quarantine.
Shout out to the Bajan Airport Massive, even in a crisis your staff were 100% proffessinal and on top of that….very kind to the passengers. So I salute the caring Bajans.
Needless to say I intend to reward Bajans and spend real money in Barbados in future.
Now I dont know what awaits any passenger who arrive in Grenada today, but hopefully someone in Grenada have seen how Bajans treat their guests and learn from it.
And believe me Grenada have plenty to learn, I actually had one staff touch a passenger on their forehead with a temperature sensor and then immediately tried to touch my head with same damn contaminated sensor. Nope I wasn’t having it.
So hopefully Grenada have learned from Bajans and can be more professional and kind…..and make a bad experience that dumb politicians implemented, a less stressful one.
If anyone been through customs in Grenada recently….. whats it really like?
I found it very quick from landing to exiting the airport less than 45mins
45 mins to clear, that sounds about good/ average. Thanks for the feedback Jacqueline.
Mr Kesir Johnson I strongly endorsed your sentiments about some of my Grenadian people interpretation of customer service and yes there is a massive amount of room for improvement and much to be gained by learning more and especially from the Top /Down
Yes iv had both jabs tests r a waste of time and how do we stand with our 13 years old granddaughter? Tests jabs prices too high it’s all about money comes on?