ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) – The German airline, Condor, is set to resume flights to Grenada later this year as the island seeks to cash in on the increased number of German visitors to the Caribbean.

Figures released here show that the number of German visitors to the Caribbean increased by seven per cent last year, totalling 717,000 visitors. The figures also indicate that over the last four years, Germans have been visiting the region in increasing numbers.

Tourism Minister Alexandra Otway-Noel, who is leading a Grenada delegation to the ITB Berlin trade show, signed the agreement with Condor on Friday after months of negotiations

Grenada will have a direct weekly service from Frankfurt for the upcoming winter season starting in November.

“We are so excited to have Condor back in our market and we have to do everything possible to ensure the flight is a success. Grenada has been out of the German market for too long and it is a very important one for us,” said Otway-Noel.

“Things are moving along smoothly; we have implemented the new GTA as promised, we have launched our new brand for destination Grenada as promised – Pure Grenada, which has received glowing reports here at ITB, and now we are moving quickly to get our hotels full and secure new business.”

Tourism officials here said that the agreement with Condor is expected to be a major boost for the tourism industry as it will once again re-open access to the German market and also provide a gateway to the rest of Europe.

Condor had ended flights to Grenada in 2007.