Ernest Hilaire vows to boost tourism sector with strategic plans

Castries, Saint Lucia: The Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Ernest Hilaire, as well as the member of Parliament serving for Castries South shared exciting plans to foster the tourism sector during the weekly pre-cabinet presser on Monday. 

The Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC) is looking forward to bringing together the key players in the tourism industry to study recent achievements, assess performance, and address challenges. 

Minister Hilaire stated that the headline-making developments for the coming year include the following

– Mount Pimard Resort 

– The Reduit Beach development

– The opening of the luxurious 345-room Grand Hyatt Hotel in Sabwisha and Choiseul

– The Secrets St Lucia Resort and Spa, boasting over 300 rooms

Noting this, Deputy PM Hilaire emphasized the demand and urgency for additional accommodation in Saint Lucia, as in 2023, it cited the success of the tourism sector and saw significant growth in both cruise and stay-over arrivals.

These ambitious initiatives aim to improve the visitor experience while also creating opportunities for local people to benefit from this thriving industry.

While highlighting the infrastructural upgrades, the deputy prime minister outlined the plans for the Saint Lucia cruise tourism sector, which are set to transform the cruise tourism experience. Some of the projects are as follows

– The redevelopment of Port Castries

– The Global Ports Holding (GPH) project

– A Vendors Arcade

– The redevelopment of Soufriere’s Waterfront

– Fisherman’s Village in Bannane

– Dredging at Point Seraphine

– The introduction of new amenities, such as the boardwalk amphitheatre at Serenity Park 

Moreover, Minister Hilaire expressed his delight in the proposed Tourism Development Bill in addition to the physical enhancement, which is expected to be presented before Parliament in the forthcoming weeks. He believed that the bill would turn the table and bring progress to the industry. 

“This bill will transform the tourism industry, providing more support for Saint Lucians getting involved in the industry and expanding the incentive regime beyond just accommodation to all sectors of the industry. It is a major piece of legislation, and I am looking forward to presenting it in the House”, added the tourism minister, Hilaire. 

Related to this bill, he further said that it will support the combination of infrastructural upgrades and legislative advancements. It will place the island and bring an exciting era of growth and prosperity in the tourism industry.