The performance of Saint Lucia’s vital tourism industry so far for 2024 is proving to be the best.
The disclosure came from Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire.
” If all goes well and we are expecting this year to be our best year on record,” Hilaire told reporters.
Speaking at Monday’s regular pre-cabinet press briefing, the Castries South MP revealed that Saint Lucia was doing better than in 2019.
“I believe we’re up seven percent on 2019, which is very good, and we have jazz coming up in May, carnival in July,” the minister told reporters.
Regarding the carnival, Hilaire said from all indications, the 2024 event would be the biggest ever.
In addition, he noted additional events, such as more cricket in September and Creole Heritage in October.
“Once we start off the GPH development, we have so much coming on – the Grand Hyatt in Choiseul. Saint Lucia is really going to be enjoying a special period in terms of economic development,” Hilaire observed.
First of all, comparing 2024 with 2019 is ridiculous. I thought we would have reached the 2019 total by 2022 based on the progress we were achieving after the reopening of the borders. We were doing better than all the oECS countries and Barbados. Just one question I want to know, Mr. Hilaire, how are we doing compared to the OECS countries.
Any increase in visitor arrivals is a good thing. All the good folks involved in making that happen, I salute you!
Of course, I would love the Tourism authority to also calculate the ‘spend’. Calculating visitor spend, especially in the context of cruise travelers, can indeed provide valuable insights into the economic impact of tourism.
How much does the average visitor spend?
Where do they spend their money (types of merchants)?
How much does the spending vary across visitors?
What influences their spending?
If the vendors and taxi operators had that information, I believe they would devise better business models. I was in Nepal and noticed that my tour operator stopped at vendors and businesses. He was received free or discounted meals or cash in my presence. He confirmed to me that he has a business arrangement with these establishments.
Comparing tourist figures to 2019 in 2024 could indeed be a way to gauge the recovery of the tourism industry post-pandemic. The year 2019 serves as a benchmark because it was a pre-pandemic period when tourism was thriving in many parts of the world. But we still in early Q2 of 2024 and so much can happen in the quarters that follow.
I am too am hoping that “If all goes well and we are expecting this year to be our best year on record”.
Is that the same Tourism Industry that Pierre, Hilaire and the SLP never expected to survive post Covid-19
What are you talking about? Aren’t we supposed to increase tourist arrivals every year? So automatically, every year should be a “best ever year”. Isn’t that so? So why the big fuss, Mr Hilaire? Iguess it about fooling his base.
Are the Hotel workers getting payed a decent wage to share the Wealth and Joy of St Lucia The workers must be paid not less than $10+ per hour as a minimum wage..
Progress…….all the characters hating as usual they are just foaming at the mouth about this government progress progress progress they can’t digest this after our CiP is number 3 and Red Hot there there there CRY A RIVER YOU FOOLS……hit it Andy Williams moon river blah blah blah blah.