Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire has announced plans to ensure the certification of tourism service providers in Saint Lucia.
“We will be going to parliament very soon to pass a new law for tourism,” he disclosed to the official launch of the Soufriere Vendors Association.
“Part of it is that every service provider in tourism must be certified. We’re doing away with the fact that anybody can just do anything and say they’re involved in tourism,” the Castries South MP stated.
“When you are involved in tourism, you have to be trained, you have to be organised like you are and you have to be able to deliver high quality service,” Hilaire stated.
He indicated that the objective was to deliver world-class tourism.
“So when we say we are world-class in tourism, we know we have taken the best people, we have trained them, and then they are delivering world-class service. What you have done is that you are way ahead of a lot of people because you have already organised yourselves as an association,” Hilaire told the launch of the Soufriere Vendors’ Association.
“Now we can give you that support so that you can become world-class vendors,” the Minister said.
Now this is a good move, it is something that is long over due because we cannot sell our substandard service and product hence reducing our ability. Also tell the minister for agriculture to provide packaging materials for local manufacturers and processors because the increase of VAT won’t make it easy so far it seems like they are prepared to see that industry fade away as well. That being said, some stalls in the market have more products on their stall than compare to SLMB>LMFAO
Hilaire, I must applaud for this initiative – this will surely give the government the opportunity to standardize the industry and have more control of the products being sold to the tourist.
Now, when are you and your group going to talk about Richard and the land deal. This thing smells like a rabbit. In my opinion, the government needs to come clean with is and call it for what it is. Richard has been giving so many versions of the story, at this point I believe this guy no more. Can you and your guys come up with a report to the nation or can you advice Pierre to report to the nation. Definitely, Silence is not an option and should not be used as a strategy – Thank You
This sounds great on the surface. A tourism certification does not ensure quality service. There needs to be effective supervision and ongoing training to build capacity.
What does this mean? It means that the poor will suffer. Those who cannot afford licence will lose income and/or be criminalised. Who does this apply to, everyone who sells a drink to a tourist? Everyone who does AirBnB?
What an absolute joke. St. Lucia belongs to St. Lucians and they must be able to sell to whomsoever wants to buy their services. St. Lucia is not a giant hotel with government for management. This country does not exist just to please tourists.
I actually like this idea. It is similar to what Chas proposed with the licences for Service providers, food etc. But to hear the naysayers Chastenet wanted to tax persons for providing coals etc. Now similar is being proposed..
Honestly Hillaire, what exactly will this accomplish, we first need to deal with the crime in the country and address getting the folks HELP, they are living in a nightmare in the day. CRIME all over the place and I doubt tourist want to visit the country that much. Yes there is major improvement for service and quality there of, but what you need to focus on is to create opportunities for people to be able to survive not just for a few folks to thrive. Its time for this ministers to stop talking and take action, put measures in place and give folks real means to have a way to live. ENOUGH TALK AND MORE ACTION PLEASE