Are We Missing an Opportunity for Local Artists in Grenada?

After visiting several Caribbean cruise ports, I came home wondering whether Grenada could offer visitors something different.

I recently returned from a Caribbean cruise, and one thing really stood out to me.

The Same Souvenirs, Just a Different Island

As we travelled from island to island, I started noticing the same souvenir shops everywhere. The same mass-produced T-shirts, magnets, bags and little trinkets, just with a different island name printed on them.

And, of course, the jewellery stores selling diamonds, gold and expensive watches.

After a while, the ports all started looking rather similar. By the third stop, I felt like I was walking through the same shopping mall, just on a different island!

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy browsing souvenir shops as much as anyone. But I found myself wondering: Where are the local artists? Where are the people actually making things on these islands?

And then I started thinking about Grenada.

We Have So Much Local Talent

Grenada is full of incredibly talented people.

We have artists creating beautiful paintings, handmade jewellery, pottery, woodwork, textiles, sculptures and so many other wonderful things.

People who put their time, creativity and heart into what they make.

Yet when thousands of cruise passengers arrive in St. George’s, how many actually discover these artists?

Most visitors have only a few hours on the island. They walk through the cruise terminal, browse the nearby shops, perhaps take an excursion, and return to their ship.

Unless they know where to look, they may never discover some of the wonderful handmade products Grenada has to offer.

And I think that’s a missed opportunity.

It’s not that Grenada lacks beautiful locally made products. Perhaps we’re simply not doing enough to help visitors find them.

But Don’t We Already Have Craft Markets and Local Shops?

Of course we do!

We have our traditional markets, the Grand Anse Craft & Spice Market, and wonderful local businesses and boutique collectives showcasing Grenadian creativity.

But here’s the problem.

Visitors need to know these places exist.

On a recent walk around St. George’s, I stopped by a popular, highly visible local spot that was buzzing with cruise tourists. Yet, just a few steps away, a beautiful shop showcasing locally made clothing, textiles and handmade crafts was completely quiet.

And that really made me think.

Here we have incredible local businesses offering visitors something genuinely different from the usual mass-produced souvenirs, yet so many tourists may walk right past without ever knowing what’s inside.

It’s not that Grenada lacks beautiful locally made products. Perhaps we’re simply not doing enough to help visitors find them.

There is also the question of affordability. Can someone making jewellery, pottery or other handmade products on a small scale realistically afford retail space in a prime tourist shopping location?

I think that’s something worth discussing.

What If Grenada Did Something Different?

Imagine arriving in Grenada and discovering a beautiful little artisan market just a short walk from the cruise terminal.

Not another row of shops selling imported souvenirs.

But a place dedicated to things genuinely made in Grenada.

You could meet the person who made your necklace, watch someone carving wood, talk to a painter about their artwork, or discover a beautiful handmade gift you wouldn’t find anywhere else in the Caribbean.

Wouldn’t that be a much more memorable experience?

And it wouldn’t necessarily require a huge new development.

Perhaps we could start with a small, well-organised artisan market on cruise ship days, with affordable stalls for local makers.

A place where established artists and small home-based craftspeople could participate, without needing to commit to an expensive permanent shop.

But I also think we need to do more to promote the wonderful local businesses we already have.

Why not have clear signs, walking maps and information at the cruise terminal showing visitors where they can find authentic Grenadian products?

A simple walking trail connecting local shops, galleries and craft businesses could encourage visitors to explore beyond the usual tourist shopping areas.

Instead of competing with existing businesses, a new artisan market could become part of a bigger experience that benefits everyone.

Let’s Give Visitors Something They Can’t Buy Anywhere Else

One of the things I noticed during my cruise was just how similar the shopping experiences were from one island to the next.

But Grenada has something those mass-produced souvenirs can never offer.

Our own people, our creativity, our culture and our stories.

When a visitor buys something directly from a local maker, they’re not just purchasing a souvenir. They’re meeting someone, hearing a story and taking home a memory of the island.

And more of their spending directly supports the people who live and work here.

Isn’t that what tourism should be about?

We proudly promote ourselves as Pure Grenada, and I think our local arts and crafts should be a much bigger part of that experience.

I would love to see Grenada become known as the Caribbean island where cruise passengers can discover genuinely beautiful, locally handmade treasures.

Not just another destination with the same souvenirs found everywhere else.

Grenada doesn’t need to become another Caribbean shopping destination filled with the same souvenirs. We have something far more valuable to offer — the creativity of our own people. We just need to give them the opportunity to be seen.

What Do You Think?

Are we doing enough to showcase Grenada’s talented artists and craftspeople to cruise visitors?

Would a dedicated Made in Grenada artisan market near the cruise terminal be a good idea?

Or should we start by making it easier for visitors to discover the wonderful local shops and artists already here?

And if you’re a local artist, craft maker or business owner, I’d especially love to hear your thoughts.

Let’s get a conversation started! 🇬🇩

Island Made Grenada — Celebrating the people who create on our beautiful island.