TUI is to scrap direct flights to two beautiful Caribbean destinations popular with Brits from a major UK airport.

       Routes to Costa Rica from London Gatwick will be axed from the end of April.

       Then, at the end of May, trips to the Caribbean island of St Lucia will end. Although, the firm's holiday packages in the countires will still operate with third-party companies.

       In 2022, TUI informed the Costa Rican Tourism Institute that it will stop flying to the province of Guanacaste from March 2023.

       This was reportedly due to operating cost reasons.

       At the time, La Republica reported that this was "a blow to the country due to the potential European clients that would come to Guanacaste".

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       The Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT) reports that around 49,780 British visitors travelled to the country between January and September 2023.

       This made the UK Costa Rica's third largest European source market for tourism. In 2024, the number of visitors from the UK to St Lucia increased by 4%, stats suggest.

       The country is the second largest source market for the island after the US, experts say. But TUI Ireland is all set to launch a new flight from Belfast International Airport to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

       TUI says on its website that Costa Rica is a "crowd pleaser", as it highlights wildlife spotting and horse riding as activities to do once there.

       The company adds: "Whether you’re after chill time by the sea, an active adventure or a family holiday with a difference, you can’t put a foot wrong with Costa Rica.

       "This Central American country matches Mexico and Florida for beaches, with two shorelines edging up to both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.

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       "And, in between these, you’ll find everything from zip-line-strewn rainforests and simmering hot springs to plantations that produce some of the best coffee on the planet. The flight time’s around 10 hours from London Gatwick."

       About St. Lucia, TUI says: "If you’re considering a Caribbean holiday, look no further than St Lucia. Here, towering mountains, rainforests and banana plantations rub shoulders with pristine beaches.

       "This place is a magnet for sun worshippers – and no wonder. Its tropical climate makes it a prime spot for year-round sunshine and warm weather.

       "The best time to visit is between December and April, when the mercury regularly hits 30C. St Lucia’s beaches are its main calling cards – you’ll meet eye-widening sweeps of soap-white sand on every edge of the island."