Industry leaders and government officials gathered at Cruise Connect on Thursday September 18th for a panel discussion on destination competitiveness, port readiness, and guest experience as Saint Lucia advances its cruise sector development.
The session, moderated by Saint Lucia Tourism Authority Public Relations Manager Geraine Georges, featured Richard Diaz, Destination Operations Analyst at Virgin Voyages; Ann Margaret Adams, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism; Ereika Tache, Vice President of Shorex and Landside Development at Global Ports Holding (GPH); and Ceylan Erzi Yaman, Marketing Director at GPH.
The panel explored how Saint Lucia can benchmark its cruise offerings against regional and global standards, addressing infrastructure, visitor satisfaction, and community benefits in developing a competitive cruise tourism product.
Diaz highlighted that cruise lines evaluate destinations not only on berthing capacity but also on passenger flow efficiency and the overall guest experience.
Adams emphasized the government’s role in aligning policy and infrastructure to ensure that investments in the sector deliver long-term sustainability and local benefits.
Tache pointed to the importance of operational readiness and landside investments to accommodate larger vessels and evolving environmental standards.
Meanwhile Yaman outlined the role of marketing and storytelling in differentiating Saint Lucia from competing destinations, stressing the value of digital platforms in reaching diverse passenger demographics and promoting authentic cultural experiences.
The discussion also addressed the role of local vendors and communities in shaping shore excursions, as well as the importance of public–private partnerships and data-driven strategies to support repeat visitation.
The Cruise Connect forum comes as Saint Lucia Cruise Port, a subsidiary of Global Ports Holdings (GPH), continues its investment program in Castries and Soufriere, aimed at strengthening the island’s position as a leading cruise destination in the Caribbean.
