For the first time in more than two decades, Saint Lucia is preparing to rewrite the blueprint that will shape one of its most important economic sectors, as government and industry leaders move to create a new National Tourism Policy designed to guide the island’s tourism industry through to 2036.
The initiative signals one of the most significant overhauls of Saint Lucia’s tourism strategy since 2003, with officials acknowledging that the global tourism landscape has changed dramatically and requires a modern policy capable of keeping the island competitive.
Speaking during a policy validation workshop held at the Finance Administrative Centre on June 29, Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire said the existing framework no longer reflects the realities of today’s tourism industry.
“The last tourism policy was adopted in 2003. A lot has happened in the world since then. A lot has happened in tourism since then,” Hilaire said.
He pointed to the rapid rise of sustainable tourism, community-based experiences, climate resilience and greater inclusivity as major shifts that demand a fresh national approach.
“We’ve reviewed the last policy, and we’ve seen a lot of gaps in that policy and recognize the need for us to update the policy,” the minister added.
The revised policy, covering the period 2026 to 2036, is being developed by the Department of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Heritage in partnership with the Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) Project. The validation workshop brought together government agencies, tourism stakeholders and industry representatives to refine the draft before it advances to Cabinet.
Permanent Secretary Donalyn Vittet explained that the exercise builds on consultations held with stakeholders last November, with regional consultant Dr. Edwards consolidating the feedback into a comprehensive policy framework.
Vittet also confirmed that the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority has been a key partner throughout the process and that officials expect to complete the draft policy this month before submitting it to Cabinet for endorsement.
Beyond tourism itself, the policy also places greater emphasis on the blue economy as a driver of long-term economic growth.
UBEC Project Manager Shermaine Clauzelle said Saint Lucia’s vast marine space presents enormous opportunities that extend well beyond traditional tourism.
“While we have a lot of land space, we have far more ocean space. Building our economies on the ocean space just makes sense,” she said.
She stressed, however, that maximizing those opportunities will require careful coordination between tourism, fisheries and other users of the country’s marine resources to ensure sustainable development.
Officials believe the new policy will position Saint Lucia to better respond to changing global travel trends while strengthening resilience, encouraging innovation, expanding community participation and securing the tourism sector’s contribution to national development over the next decade.
