Castries, Saint Lucia – Saint Lucia’s tourism sector is on the verge of a major transformation, with 2,000 new hotel rooms set to redefine the island’s hospitality landscape. According to Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire, the upcoming developments, including the highly anticipated Mt. Pimard project, signal a new era for the island’s economy and global appeal.
Speaking to residents of Reduit, Minister Hilaire emphasized the scale of change on the horizon. “The entire area will take on a different level of development, which we have to prepare for,” he stated, referring to the sweeping construction efforts underway.
A key highlight of this expansion is the A’ila Resorts project, a luxury development poised to introduce 1,000 high-end hotel rooms in its first phase. The resort, backed by The Life Co., represents a USD $850 million investment, featuring the company’s first holistic wellness center in the Western Hemisphere—a milestone Minister Hilaire believes all Saint Lucians should recognize.
This comes as Saint Lucia reclaims its title as the World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination for 2024, further cementing its reputation as a premier travel hotspot. The expansion will also include the redevelopment of existing properties such as Mystic and Starfish, with site clearing set to begin in the coming weeks.
“You can start imagining what Saint Lucia, as a tourism destination, will become in the next three years with the addition of two thousand new high-end rooms,” Hilaire remarked, underscoring the unprecedented growth in the sector.
With an influx of tourists expected, the government is preparing to upgrade essential infrastructure, including roads, water systems, and security measures. Minister Hilaire stressed that these developments would generate significant economic opportunities for locals, urging investment in skills training and business ventures to capitalize on the tourism boom.
“We have to prepare in terms of roads, water, security—all those different aspects. But this will create tremendous opportunities for our people, and we have to ensure they are ready to take advantage,” he said.
