Carriacou to Host Dedicated Open Water Swim as Grenada Expands Sports Tourism Offering

Grenada is expanding its sports tourism offering with the upcoming Grenada & Carriacou Open Water Swim, a regional swimming event taking place from November 19 to 22, 2026, with activities across both Grenada and Carriacou.

Supported by the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA), the event forms part of a wider effort to develop sporting events that can attract new visitors to the destination while generating greater tourism activity across the Tri-Island State. It also supports the GTA’s growing calendar of events and experiences in Carriacou, aimed at strengthening the island’s visibility and creating more consistent opportunities for visitor spend throughout the year.

Organized by Jason Gooding of Odessey Timing and Events, the four-day programme will combine competitive open-water swimming with destination experiences across Grenada and Carriacou. Activities will include a swim from Paradise Beach to Sandy Island in Carriacou, guided swims, tours of the Underwater Sculpture Park,and a full programme of races at Grand Anse Beach.

The event builds on an earlier open-water swim staged in Grenada in February, which attracted a strong contingent of international participants. The longer-term ambition is to grow the Grenada & Carriacou Open Water Swim into a recognizable regional fixture, drawing competitors as well as families, supporters and spectators.

Carriacou offers a particularly strong setting for that growth. It's clear waters, beaches and coastline lend themselves naturally to open-water and endurance sports, while the scale and character of the island offer participants an experience that can distinguish the event within the regional sporting calendar.

Sports tourism also has the potential to generate incremental visitation, attracting travellers who may not otherwise have chosen Grenada or Carriacou. Its economic impact extends beyond the competitors themselves, with accompanying families and supporters creating demand for accommodation, restaurants, transportation, excursions and other local services.

Kirl Grant-Hoschtialek, Chief of Operations and Acting CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority, said the inclusion of Carriacou is part of a strategy to extend the benefits of tourism across the Tri-Island State. “As we expand Grenada’s sports tourism offering, we also want to ensure that the benefits of that growth are felt across the Tri-Island State. Events like this help increase visibility for Carriacou, encourage greater visitor movement and spend, and create opportunitiesfor local businesses and communities to participate more directly in the tourism economy. It also forms part of the GTA’s broader work to build out a stronger calendar of events and experiences in Carriacou, creating more consistent opportunities to attract visitors and generate economic

activity throughout the year.”

Event organizer Jason Gooding added, “People who participate in sports are often looking for more than the competition itself. They want to explore, experience the destination and combine an active lifestyle with travel. Our aim is to create more events that put Grenada and Carriacou on the map for sports tourism and give participants the opportunity to enjoy a true sports holiday while discovering the islands.”

The Open Water Swim joins a growing calendar of events helping to broaden Carriacou’s tourism offering and stimulate activity at different points throughout the year. These include events such as the Lobster, Lambie and Seafood Festival, Corn Festival, Carriacou Cooldown, Maroon Festival and Kayak Mas.

Through its support for sporting, cultural, wellness and community-based experiences, the GTA is continuing to broaden the range of events that can attract visitors to Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique while creating greater opportunities for tourism expenditure to reach local businesses and communities.

The Grenada & Carriacou Open Water Swim will conclude on Sunday, November 22 with the main race programme and awards at Grand Anse Beach.