Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire believes that tourism that focuses on the people and allows them to benefit more from the industry will reduce the number its critics.
During Monday’s regular pre-cabinet press briefing, Hilaire spoke about his belief in ‘people’s tourism’.
He explained that he had asked for a national education campaign to promote it when he first became Minister.
The Castries South MP stated that if the people of Saint Lucia understood that tourism is an economic opportunity to better their lives, they would feel less estranged from the process.
The Minister stated that, as a result, the country would have a better industry.
Hilaire noted that the Philip J. Pierre administration had invested in community tourism and granted concessions to ordinary Saint Lucians to invest in and own more of the sector.
” We have to show our people that they can benefit more from tourism. It is why we are lobbying the hotels and other service providers to pay higher salaries to our people so our people can benefit more,” he told reporters.
The Minister declared that if people cannot see more significant benefits from tourism, they will rightfully be cynical.
” So we must fight for them, we must fight for better salaries, we must fight for more opportunities,” Hilaire expressed.
Noting that Saint Lucia has no diamonds or oil, he described tourism as the country’s natural resource, including the Island’s extraordinary beauty and its people’s welcoming nature.
In this regard, the Minister stated that the people should own more of the industry and benefit from it.
“That’s the kind of tourism I want, and I think the more we can achieve that, the fewer naysayers we will have,” Hilaire told reporters.
STOCK PHOTO: Female visitor examines items a craft vendor in Castries has displayed for sale.
He must stay focused on the salaries.. Minimum wage must be not less than $10+ per hour based on hours worked to everyone especially the hotel workers.
None of the hotel workers can’t afford to spend a day at the very same hotel that they are working at.
How can anyone afford to have a piece of the island as he stated? Politician stop talking and enact a fair living wage system for the people can invest in the island.. The current salaries way too low for any worker to have enough to maintain their selves and their Families and that’s impossible to anyone working under the slave wages system..
That speech making sense ? SMH . People are focused on the dollars tourism brings just like you. Tell us what we eh know already ‘boss mun’
Marigot people saying it’s only on TV they seeing Hilaire, and only about tourism he talking. They say they hope tourism will vote for him next election. Some roads are in a deplorable state and Hilaire is no where to be seen.