Above: Grenada (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Grenada saw a 29 percent increase in cruise passenger arrivals in 2014, according to new data from the Grenada Tourism Authority.

The island received a total of 162 cruise calls and 254,248 cruise passengers last year across ports in Grenada and Carriacou.

That contributed approximately $10.4 million USD to the local economy, the GTA said.

The increase was particularly significant given that Grenada had seen a 18.6 percent drop in cruise arrivals in 2013 compared to the previous year, according to data from the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

The current cruise season is projecting a 25.5 percent increase from the previous 2013/2014 season.