St. Kitts is on the Rise With Canadian Travellers – AC Responds with More Seats

Tourism officials say it has been an exciting fall for St. Kitts, with the destination earning the number two spot on Skyscanner’s 2026 Trending Destinations list for Canadian travellers. 

The global travel search engine released its latest insights recently, noting that interest in the destination has skyrocketed, with online searches for St. Kitts surging by 170% over last year.

“Canadian travellers are turning their attention to smaller, lesser-known destinations that fly further under the radar but offer something fresh beyond the big-name spots,” Skyscanner said.

On a recent visit to Toronto, the Hon. Marsha T. Henderson, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Urban Development for St. Kitts said there’s hard work behind the positive numbers.

 “People may be surprised to see a small island like St. Kitts gaining momentum like this, but for us, it is confirmation that we are making the right moves in Canada. Skyscanner’s data indicates that by targeting the market with Canadian-specific campaigns that highlight our authentic, under-the-radar charm, we are resonating with Canadians,” Henderson said.

Skycanner’s data also indicated that direct airlift and the island’s new, simplified eTA entry system have contributed to the uptick in interest. The Minister noted during her visit that Air Canada has confirmed a 42% increase in seat capacity this winter, switching from a 136-seat A319 to the 201-seat Airbus A321. The seasonal, direct route that departs from Toronto, begins November 15 and continues through April 25.

“The increased air capacity speaks volumes to the confidence the airline has in the destination’s authentic tourism product,” said the Hon. Minister. “Canadians stay longer in St. Kitts than any other travellers, so we anticipate this added capacity will be a welcome option for those seeking alternative destinations this winter.”

Henderson also noted that St. Kitts has been working hard to deepen its trade industry ties as it kicked off the search for its first-ever Travel Advisor Board this month. 

The initiative aims to strengthen ties and foster engagement with the travel agent community by providing professionals the opportunity to share direct feedback, offer valuable insights and contribute to the destination’s ongoing tourism strategy. 

Also targeting advisor is the award-winning, St. Kitts Your Way (SKY) program that emphasizes training, immersive webinars, exclusive rewards and fam trips.