St. Lucia Villa Rental - Fly in from New York to St Lucia and take off in a helicopter.

As we have said before St Lucia is becoming more popular as shown by the increased number of airlines flying to St Lucia than a few years ago. The latest is Jet Blue.

This summer, beginning June 28 through September 4, JetBlue will offer daily non-stop flights between New York’s JFK and St. Lucia’s Hewanorra Airport (UVF), making the island even more accessible for travelers flying from the Northeast.

 So getting away from the daily grind just got easier.

Why not let us organise a helicopter transfer on your arrival to your luxury villa rental Akasha. This is just a 10 minute flight to the north of the island and then a short 15 minute drive to the villa. Otherwise, Saint Lucia’s Hewanorra Airport at Vieux Fort is located in the south of the island is about 1.5 hours drive.

We will meet you at either airport and take you safely in an air-conditioned vehicle right up to the front door. So no need to get stressed looking for the villa in a strange place. Once here let us arrange our taxi driver to transport you to your choice of restaurant, beach, shop or bar. So you can get away from that daily stress with out hiring a rental car.

The JetBlue flight departs New York at 8:29 a.m. each day and arrives in St. Lucia at 1:07 p.m.; and conversely departs St. Lucia at 2:10 p.m. to arrive back in New York at 7:12 p.m.

St Lucia is becoming more popular as shown by the increased number of airlines flying to St Lucia than a few years ago. The latest is Air France which as of December 11, 2011 and on a year round basis, entered into a code share agreement with Air Antilles.

This will allow passengers smooth transit from Fort de France in Martinique to Saint Lucia’s George Charles airport (SLU). Forty-eight airline seats are available three times weekly (Wed, Fri, Sun) from Orly Airport in Paris to Fort de France and on to Saint Lucia. French travelers will now be able to easily cross to St Lucia after years of wondering what lay across that short span of water. So by flying over they can sample St Lucia’s delights including the annual Jazz Festival and street parties including the Gros Islet.

Akasha welcomes all nationalities and hopes to welcome french guests to come and enjoy the super facilities it offers – there is nothing like it on the island. Thankfully all that hostility between the French and British finished hundreds of years ago in the Caribbean.

In addition, the French airline Air Caraibes increased their services to four flights for winter 2011-2012 from Orly to Saint Lucia, with smooth transit arrangement in Fort De France. In both instances, the luggage is checked through directly to Saint Lucia.

So, Bonjour, Accueil and Au revoir mon ami, are some of the words we hope we hear in the villa in the near future. When you stay at St Lucia’s most luxurious villa our on-site team may just use break into french. No matter what language you speak a warm welcome along with sunshine awaits your St Lucia Vacation.

Looking for adventurous - Des Cartiers Rainforest is popular place to enjoy adventurous hiking and trailing on this tropical island. Mahaut, is most hidden lush rainforest of St. Lucia.

Take six mile drive inland from the east coast main highway and you can expect to see the rare Parrot (Jacquot) in St Lucia. Experience trekking in the rainforest and see the beautiful lush flora. You can also explore some of Saint Lucia’s widespread wildlife on a two-kilometer track. The experience of a botanical paradise is well worth it when in St. Lucia.

Mahaut is St. Lucia’s most concealed abundant rainforest. This is along a two hour well marked track that runs along Canelles River that ultimately leads to the ranger station. Using the secondary road to reach this destination means you have to drive around nine kilometers. Admission charges are very low just $10US Dollars. Half price for kids. This forest is open from 8:30am to 2pm.

Edmund Forest Reserve is another interesting rainforest to include in your adventure. Takes three and a half hour drive to reach the heart of the tropical island at Edmund Forest Reserve. Here you get opportunity to see some of the best gift of nature such as orchids, bromeliads, lianas, mushrooms and many others plants. Continue westward and you will get a wonderful view of Mt Gimie, this is highest peak in Saint Lucia. This forest is sprawling over 19, 000 acres of valleys and mountains and is a home for many rare and exotic plants and flowers.

If you fancy an easier way to see Mount Gimie then just trek all the way up to the look out level at Akasha and look southwards and there it is. So even if you are not too adventurous you can still see it – from a distance.

While you are at the look out level why not enjoy a glass of wine. If you been on the adventure tour and vacationing at St Lucia’s best villa rental Akasha, we think you have earned it.

Don’t forget that as part of our inclusive deals your meals are included so on your return you do not need to worry about getting the cook book out.

The Government of Trinidad has announced that a Barbados company will be running a new ferry service across the Caribbean. Initially, the ferry will carry passengers, vehicles and goods from its base in Trinidad and Tobago to Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia and Barbados.

The company, Fast Caribbean Ltd has been selected to manage a regional ferry service scheduled to come on stream this year, They are based in Barbados so well known across the region. The service will will carry passengers, vehicles and goods from Trinidad and Tobago to St Lucia and other islands.

Apparently the operators plan to charter from owners Montrose Global a 112-metre wave piercing catamaran similar to those operating on the Trinidad and Tobago route. This promises to be a fun way to commute between island and takes the infrastructure in the region to the next level.

So from Port of Spain to Barbados will take approximately 12 hours suggest you pack some reading material and lots of sun tan lotion. The wind can give you a tan as well as that great sunshine – so protection is advised.

This means in the future when you book a holiday at Akasha you can take a short break in Trinidad as well. As part of our service to guests we will offer to purchase tickets for you from St Lucia, all part of our service when you book a holiday in St Lucia and stay at Akasha.

The yearly ARC race starts on the 20th November this year and after the crew endure some grueling conditions they will hit the calmer  Caribbean sea and pass the finishing line just north of Akasha.

This annual transatlantic rally starting each November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has now become the most popular way to cross the Atlantic. The largest transocean sailing event in the world, every year the ARC brings together over 200 yachts from all over the world. The Caribbean destination is Rodney Bay in Saint Lucia, one of the most beautiful islands in the Lesser Antilles. The 2700 nautical mile passage on the NE tradewind route takes on average between 14 and 21 days.

The crews will then dock in Rodney Bay Marina.  A full programme of social activities, safety seminars and demonstrations will be organised by World Cruising Club in Las Palmas prior to the start, and after the finish in St.Lucia.

We invite all racers and observers of the race to finish this race in style and spend a few days at Akasha – at a special rate.  With this St Lucia vacation you will be able kick those crocs off, take a dip in the cool pool, watch your favorite movie while Juliette cooks her special local dishes for you.

Drop us an email by filling in the Contact form to learn more about our special prices for ARC participants.

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Saint Lucia nominated for the “World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination” Nerdin St. Rose, VP, Marketing & Sales, Saint Lucia Tourist Board and Graham Cookie, President & Founder, World Travel Awards

St Lucia does it again – it won the award of the leading Honeymoon Destination in the Caribbean at the prestigious America’s Travel awards ceremony. A press release by the Tourist Board was issued.

Saint Lucia accepted the award for “Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination” at the 2011 Caribbean & The America’s Awards Ceremony on October 19^th, travel and tourism’s biggest night of the year. This is Saint Lucia’s ninth win since 2002. Hosted in Montego Bay, Jamaica at Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort and Private Island, the event, now in its 18^th year, was established for the purpose of recognizing and celebrating achievements in all areas of the world’s travel and tourism industry. As the winner of this regional award, Saint Lucia is also nominated for the “World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination,” to be announced at the World Travel Awards 2011 Grand Final in Doha, Qatar in December.

“We are thrilled to be accepting this award for St Lucia” said Nerdin St Rose, St Lucia Tourist Board VP of Sales and Marketing.  ”We have worked hard to maintain our leadership position as the most romantic destination in the Caribbean and 2012 is poised additional growth”.

For those looking for luxury, paradise and service then Akasha offers you the honeymoon of a lifetime and a Caribbean Vacation like no other.  You can make it all inclusive or just the run of the mill luxury, either way you know where to come for the honeymoon that you will not forget.

Our honeymoon offering, like the wedding package is bespoke – you can chose from massages, zip lining, diving, romantic cruises and much more.  One thing you can be sure of is that it will be what you want and not what the crowd ordered.

Akasha Luxury Villa Rental is pleased that honeymoons like St Lucia Vacations are getting the recognition they deserve.

There are many reasons to take a vacation in St Lucia and according to Virgin Atlantic one reason is to mend your broken heart and repair your relationships or start a new one.

Foreign holidays are increasingly being used as a way of getting over failed relationships, according to VirginAtlantic.  The airline carried out a survey which found that nearly 10% of people on long-haul vacation were going away in an attempt to mend a broken heart.

These travellers have been dubbed ‘Elvis passengers’ by the carrier because they are jetting off to a heartbreak hotel.  A little corny is you ask us but that’s OK.  Renting a villa maybe just the perfect solution for those seeking the opportunity to move their relationship forward.

Destinations known for luxurious and indulgent holidays emerged as the top options for holidaymakers trying to forget their relationship woes in the British summer, with St Lucia the most popular choice in the Virgin Atlantic network, followed by Antigua, Jamaica and Las Vegas.

So why not rent the best St Lucia rental – Akasha, here you can mend not just your own heart but your partners because this is paradise.  The sunsets are amazing, sea is crystal clear and the local beach pure white sand.

Akasha offers something extraordinary for honeymooners and those looking for that special location for a wedding.  The villa has enough space to host your guests and gives you the privacy you will need.  We can arrange everything or we are happy to work with a wedding planner.

St Lucia vacations recently got better – if that was possible.  Not only can you enjoy all that this paradise offers but you now can get to another super island – Mustique.

The Mustique Company launched a nonstop 25-minute flight between St. Lucia’s Hewanorra Airport and Mustique in July. The new flights are expected to improve access to Mustique from key U.S. gateways. The 18-passenger flights depart daily on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and complement existing flights between Barbados and Mustique, which operate twice daily, seven days a week.

If you want to take advantage of this opening up of the Caribbean area then we can book the flights for you when you decide to make Akasha part of your St Lucia vacation.

The Caribbean tourist market needs more initiatives like this to expand the total tourist market and this will help each island grow, create new jobs for the local communities and show the world what it has to offer.

Many of us who live in St Lucia know this is like paradise on earth and want to preserve it. So we need to make sure that we educate tourist to take nothing but happy memories and leave nothing but footprints in the sand.  That way, future generations can enjoy and see what we have seen.

Honeymoons are big investment, emotionally and financially.  It is however there to be enjoyed and a time that you will want to remember  and recall to your friends, family including grandchildren.

At a time when most people are looking to get the most for their buck we have put together a few suggestions of how you can maximize your investment in your honeymoon.

1  Compare prices for your honeymoon destination

As you would to book a flight or buy a new car, go to the Internet to compare prices. Stick to the websites that afford you the ability to compare rates for traveling to your honeymoon destination. There are a myriad of them out there. If you are looking for an all inclusive then make sure you included everything. Take a look at the villa websites – you would be surprised at how reasonable they can be.  Just imagine the space and privacy you get.

2 Travel in the off-season

4 Become a travel agent – or get your wedding planner to be one

You might laugh at this; a travel agent seems so 20th century. The Internet can turn anyone into a travel agent. Professionals with the training and skills can find the gem of a hotel or villa.  If you feel like you want to explore all your possibilities, spend time on the internet it’s easy.

Whether you take the most lavish honeymoon possible or opt for a cost-friendly alternative, remember that a honeymoon is not a destination or a splurge. It’s a time to cherish each others company.  Do that and your new life as a married couple will be off to a great and profitable start. Villa rental offers you this chance.

Akasha offers honeymoon packages for those who want luxury, privacy and service.  Make your romantic honeymoon at St Lucia Rentals memorable,  All honeymooners get free helicopter transfers to the villa.

The St. Lucia Tourist Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has announced changes which will greatly improve and support yachting for private and charter yachts wishing to cruise St. Lucian waters as well as those wishing to conduct yachting business in the country. Some of the changes include the following:

- Yachtsmen will now be permitted to stay in St. Lucia waters for 6 months
- Yachts with owners temporarily on island will be allowed to remain in the state free of duties and taxes for up to 3 years, after which they will become payable on current value
- 100% waiver of import duty and tax on yachts imported into Saint Lucia
- 100% waiver on income tax from operations for the first 5 years for local charter companies with a minimum of 1 captain and 3 crew members, and has a fleet of 3 or more power or sailing vessels
- Approval has been given for the formation of a Yachting Committee, that falls under the purview of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and will incorporate all relevant institutions that function to regulate the yachting sector in St. Lucia
- 100% waiver of import duty and consumption tax on boat safety equipment and watercraft activity equipment, which includes sport fishing, SCUBA diving, kite surfing and other water sports, subject to verification of the Bill of Quantities by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation for 5 years from date of cabinet conclusion
- 100% waiver of import duty and consumption tax on all equipment and materials imported or purchased locally for use in the establishment of infrastructure to service yachts over period of 5 years, subject to verification and approval of the Bill of Quantities by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation
- The Government of Saint Lucia has waived the visa requirements for Russian and Australian nationals so that Russian and Australian nationals no longer require visas to enter Saint Lucia

Sailing in the Caribbean is one of life’s pleasures and enjoyed by many – young and old.  Here the pirates may have long gone but their stories live on.  Visit Pigeon Island and you will see what we mean.  This national park is only seven minutes away from your villa when you stay at St Lucia’s best villa rental.

Akasha is a great supporter of the yachting industry and the sailors who visit these shores.  Every year you can watch all of the competitors in the ARC race sail around the north of the island and into Rodney Bay.  Its a great site.

Its interesting to note the architect of the villa sailed in the ARC race to view the plot so he could visualize the setting for himself – we think he didn’t believe us when we told him what a great location it was.  It didn’t take long for him to realize what a gem it was.   It inspired him to create the most exclusive villa rental in St Lucia.

Akasha St Lucia’s most luxurious villa is pleased to see Le Sport re-open after a major refit.  As a family we first visited Le Sport over ten years ago.  It was these visits that persuaded us to buy land and build a villa in St Lucia.

Our villa over looks the resort and we have watched the works unfold over the last few months.  Akasha is pleased that Le Sport is investing in improving the resort and thereby the quality of what is on offer to visitors to St Lucia.  This will surely help the economy of St Lucia.

The extensive renovation will unveil significant updates to the resort’s public spaces and dining venues, a new infinity-edge swimming pool and boardwalk, and an expanded Watersports Center.

The resort tapped design firm International Design Concepts to shape a setting that relies as much on innovation as tradition. The renovation will transform the public areas into a stylish haven for socializing, fine dining, and relaxation, and also add on a Penthouse Suite to the current guestroom options.

“Our decision to renovate the property was motivated by requests for upgraded and expanded facilities from guests of the resort,” stated Craig Barnard, owner of The BodyHoliday. “We are fortunate to have a large percentage of repeat guests, and we are excited for them to experience the resort after the renovation is complete.”

For those who want more private space and more privacy then Akasha is the way to go.  Here you get an all inclusive option – breakfast and lunch is included in our rates, and you can also have dinner prepared for you.  Other options available at the villa include massages in the privacy of the villa.

Le Sport is a mere ten minute walk down the hill from St Lucia’s (if not the Caribbean) most luxurious villa rental.  The sand on the beach has also been replaced with white sand so now, more than ever, its worth the short walk down the hill (take a taxi back).  If you wish to spend a day at the resort then you can buy day passes – this gives you access to all its facilities and also includes lunch and or dinner.  Akasha certainly recommends at least one trip to Le Sport during your stay at the villa.  Don’t forget the beaches in St Lucia are public so everyone can access the beaches on the island.

Akasha offers something extraordinary for honeymooners and those looking for that special location for a wedding.

Lord Glenconnor once said: "I was born into great privilege." The extraordinary objects in this sale endorse that view. Photo: Bonhams.

LONDON.- Bonhams announces the sale of the contents of the late Lord Glenconner’s property, `Beau House’, St Lucia, on behalf of the Glenconner Trustees and Estate on Wednesday 28 September 2011 at 2pm in New Bond Street, London.

The 3rd Lord Glenconner, formerly Colin Tennant, was best known for transforming the barren Caribbean island of Mustique into a luxurious and glamorous playground for the rich and famous. In the 1960s and ‘70s, the island became renowned for sensational parties with guest lists of aristocrats, rock stars and royalty.

From Mustique, Lord Glenconner moved to St Lucia in the early 1990s, together with his pet elephant, and settled in ‘Beau House’ which is idyllically located between the two Pitons in the south-east of this exotic island.

On St Lucia he was appointed Ambassador of Tourism and developed his land as a World Heritage Site The sale includes a wonderful selection of Caribbean and Anglo Indian furniture – perfect for a tropical climate – Islamic and Indian art, Chinese ceramics, silver, works of art, jewellery, pictures, natural history items from the South Seas and `Osler Lights’.

They reflect a man of taste, foresight and considerable philanthropy, with many objects providing insight into a way of life from a previous era, such as the birthday cufflinks given by the late Princess Margaret as a birthday present and photographs by the Earl of Lichfield, the Queen’s cousin.

Lord Glenconnor once said: “I was born into great privilege.” The extraordinary objects in this sale endorse that view.

We already know that the Royal Honeymoon of William and Kate will be short as William has to return to work at the RAF. The Mirror reports:

The film crew from UK have completed their shoot at Akasha St Lucia’s most Exclusive Villa Rental.

Day 4 consisted of the Jet Skiing at Reduit Beach before transferring to Choc Bay to grab some scenic shots of the beaches on the Caribbean side.  In the evening dinner and filming was at one of St Lucia’s top restaurant – Rainforest Hideaway in Marigot bay.  By all accounts they had a super dinner.

Day 5 was a little more relaxing on Pigeon Island.  Some filming on the local beach there and lunch at Jambe De Bois.  Relaxation at St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental was the order of the day in the afternoon.  Finally the Crew were able to take in some of the local night life on Rodney Bay’s version of the strip where all the bars and restaurants are – a mere 8 minutes car ride.

So on Day 6 we finally said goodbye to our guests from ITV and the Celebrity (hopefully we can let you know who it was once they give us the go ahead).  As always Earl our taxi driver delivered them safely to the airport.  Not sure if it was good news but Gatwick was open for business so they had no choice but to fly back home and leave the sun in St Lucia behind.

So the Crew have sampled some of the All Inclusive features of St Lucia’s Best Villa Rental and what the island has to offer to its visitors.

Akasha St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental is so excited to see the final results in January to get your and the audience’s reaction.

Akasha St Lucia’s most luxurious villa is currently hosting a party  from UK’s top independent broadcaster.  We are also privileged to have staying at the villa a celebrity who is narrating the filming.

During their stay at Akasha St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental the party will not only film the inside of the Luxury Rental Villa and its grounds they will be treated to a number of the activities we can arrange for our guests.

The crew will be sampling and filming;

• the delights of our massages
• a sunset sail on the Caribbean sea with Champagne
• the services of our first class chef
• a motor cruise down to the World Heritage Pitons
• Jet skiing
• in house cook to prepare breakfast and lunch
• dinner at some of recommended restaurants
• plus the views from Akasha Luxury Villa Rental

Take a look at our complete list of Concierge services and see how you could make your vacation extra special.  This is ‘inclusive’ redefined, not your normal run of the mill inclusive resorts – here you decide what you want and when.

At Akasha Luxury St Lucia Villa Rental there are no crowds or strangers – just you and your party along with the views to the Pitons, sunsets and Caribbean sea.

We will be releasing the videos being shot during January so you can get a closer look at Akasha St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental.

St Lucia Luxury Villa Rental Akasha is pleased to read that New York Times has voted the Anse Chastanet beach as one that you should visit before you die – that’s a great recommendation.  The article relating to the beach is re-produced below.

“CARIBBEAN beach vacations sometimes get a bad rap. Too much monotony, the naysayers grumble. The only thing to do is lie on the beach, and they all look the same. But the Caribbean Sea — with islands that are flat, mountainous, tiny and vast — is specked with beaches that defy tropical conventions. There are beaches with grey sand, beaches with pink sand, those that seem to go on forever without any sign of human life, and others that hum with activity.” St Lucia beaches on the Caribbean side are the best on the island – and much safer.

“It’s understandable that Anse Chastanet may not make everyone’s Top 10 list for Caribbean beaches.  A lot of beach-goers like their water turquoise and their sand white. Anse Chastanet, on St. Lucia’s western coast, has a sparkling ash gray composition. Courtesy of Anse Chastanet Resort, which occupies the land surrounding the beach, a row of oversize thatch umbrellas provide shade where the palm trees that bow down toward the water don’t. (Tip: wear flip-flops, because when the sun is at its hottest, standing on the beach can feel like standing on a tennis court with no shoes on.)  The water is not conventional Caribbean shades of blue and green, either. It is dark, almost like a lake. But there is excellent visibility underwater, making snorkelling one of the favourite pastimes here.”

Honeymooners will enjoy the calm water and clear blue skies when they visit this beach to chill out. If you want a private beach then we will find you one.

That is really great from New York Times – and when you book a boat trip at Akasha St Lucia Villa Rental we will take to this very same beach which is otherwise difficult to access.   We can vouch for the snorkelling there.  So make your holiday special and push the boat out and let us arrange for Captain Tom to take you out to those hidden beaches – don’t forget that the views from Akasha Luxury Villa Rental include three local beaches.

St Lucia is the paradise you may or may not know about. This small island sits in the Eastern Caribbean sea with the Atlantic on one side and the Caribbean sea on the other. It is part of the Lesser Antilles and one of the Windward Islands so only a short hop from Barbados. Akasha St Lucia Villa rental sits at the very northern end of the island and has views of both the Atlantic and Caribbean.

To get to St Lucia from the USA and Canada there are several options with various major airlines flying into Hewanorra International Airport in the south of the island. This is about 1.5 hour drive from Akasha St Lucia Villa Rental. The airlines which fly in directly are;

• JetBlue Airways from New York JFK on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays once a week 
  
• American Airlines daily from Miami
• Amercan Eagle several times a day from San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport to Castries George Charles Airport
• US Airways from Philadelphia and Charlotte 
• Delta Air Lines from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-JAckson Airport on Saturday, Sundays and Mondays daily resuming in December 2010
• WestJet from Toronto on Thursdays and Sundays
• Air Canada from Toronto and Montreal

As part our service we offer you the luxury of being met at the airports and being transferred to Akasha St Lucia Villa Rental in the comfort of an air conditioned car.  So you do not need to worry about how to find the villa when you arrive at the airport.   Just make sure you chill during your vacation Akasha Villa Rental will also deliver you back to the airport for your return flight.

Akasha St Lucia luxury villa rental is pleased that cruise liners have sailed back into St Lucia to support the communities that were affected by Hurricane Tomas two weekends ago.

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and its member lines quickly restored cruise business in the wake of the hurricane and have also shipped in humanitarian assistance for affected residents. “The quick action by the cruise lines was of enormous help for us and underscored the huge value of tourism to our recovery efforts,” Prime Minister Stephenson King, thanking the Florida-based trade organization for its support of his country’s cruise industry.

Most of St Lucia’s attractions have reopened and, on Sunday, both Holland America’s Noordam and P & O Oceana brought thousands of passengers who were able to experience some of them. They also brought 200 tonnes of water along with clothing, food, furniture, mattresses, sheets and blankets which were distributed to needy communities by the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and the St Lucia Red Cross.

Akasha villa rental is also pleased that the air industry is also doing its bit, tourism got a boost over the weekend with the arrival of JetBlue Airways, American Airlines/American Eagle, Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, British Airways, among other carriers. They are bringing in many tourist to boost St Lucia’s economy which it badly meeds given the damage to the banana crop. The international and regional carriers landed at both the Hewanorra International Airport and George F.L. Charles Airport. So both airports are now open and functioning.

“Tourism is our lifeblood, and we are grateful to our regional and international partners for the confidence they have placed in St Lucia. By returning so quickly, they are assisting the nation recover in the aftermath of the storm,” asserted Minister of Tourism, Senator Allen Chastanet.

St Lucia needs the tourists even more than before and we at Akasha St Lucia’s most exclusive villa rental will be doing our best to help our fellow St Lucians and encouraging even more tourists to come to this beautiful island.

Akasha has only been available for luxury villa rental for the last 10 months and has done well but like the rest of global economy St Lucia tourism has suffered from the recession over the last few years.   However, according to some experts things are looking up and will help St Lucia recover.   This is the message from leading lights in the industry.  Below is an article sent out by Caribbean 360.  Italics are our comments.

LONDON, United Kingdom, Monday November 8, 2010 – Three experts on tourism trends in the United Kingdom and Europe have painted an optimistic picture of the British market for the Caribbean tourism sector in 2011, despite challenges such as the Air Passenger Duty (APD) which saw another increase take effect this month.  APD is such an imposition on holiday makers and has a negative impact for small businesses like Akasha luxury villa rentals.

A panel of media and industry practitioners concluded that the worst is over for the global economy and that the Caribbean region can look forward to an improved performance next year.

“The global recovery has begun,” John Taker, the purchasing director for Virgin Holidays told dozens of Caribbean tourism ministers, directors and private and public sector officials gathered at the London offices of the Daily Telegraph for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) European Marketing Forum.  Many of our high end clientèle fly Virgin who have increased flight to St Lucia.

Taker added that there was a clear opportunity to grow the family travel market for the Caribbean, pointing out that price was a more important consideration for consumers booking a Caribbean holiday than it was for holidays to destinations like the United States.  Families are well come to Akasha St Lucia’s most exclusive villa rental with so much to do at Akasha.

While admitting that the APD “is a punishment that the Caribbean will have to live with for a very long time”, Graham Boynton, the Daily Telegraph’s travel editor, said there was hope for the region.

“While ultra long-haul is still suffering from the effects of the recession, medium long-haul is seeing recovery (and) the Caribbean is doing relatively well when compared to (other regions). The Caribbean is doing better than Australia…it is doing better than South Africa,” Boynton told delegates.  By adding to the quality of the St Lucia product Akasha villa rental is doing its bit to increase the appeal of St Lucia to a bigger market.  We believe that St Lucia will over take Barbados in the long term as a destination of choice.

However, he advised, there was a need for Caribbean destinations, individually and collectively, to communicate the realities of the region in a more dynamic manner.

Meanwhile, Daniel Pearce, editor of the travel trade magazine, TTG, unveiled exclusive research which painted a confident picture from British travel agents. The research revealed that two out three agents felt the reputation of the Caribbean had increased in the past year, and half the travel agents surveyed said they expected sales to the Caribbean to increase in 2011.  We at Akasha villa rental are seeing more and more interest from our UK agents.

This year’s CTO European Marketing Forum has as its theme: “2011, A Year of Opportunity or Threat?” The annual event is held as a precursor to the tourism trade show, World Travel Market (WTM).

If you check out the rest of our website you will see a lot of information about the island and how we work with our local contacts to personalise your holiday in paradise when you stay at Akasha St Lucia luxury villa rental.