Saint Lucia’s tourism industry can create stronger livelihoods, but small businesses and workers need better support to turn that potential into lasting gains, according to a new International Labour Organization (ILO) study.
Released on September 25, the study examines Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and Grenada. It calls for better working conditions, stronger businesses and a coordinated move towards formal employment.
The report identifies Saint Lucia and Grenada as countries with particularly high employment informality and strong dependence on tourism for jobs. Across the countries studied, workers face challenges including low wages, unpredictable or long working hours, inadequate social protection and weaknesses in workplace safety.
For small tourism businesses, the obstacles include difficulty accessing finance, complicated administrative processes and limited opportunities to improve skills or reach digital markets. Seasonal demand and climate shocks add further pressure, making it harder to invest and maintain stable operations.
Ana Virginia Moreira Gomes, the ILO’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, said tourism must become a platform for “decent work, productive development and social inclusion.”
The study’s recommendations link business growth with worker protection. They include helping smaller enterprises become more productive, improving training, expanding social protection and strengthening compliance with labour standards. The ILO also recommends closer cooperation among governments, employers and workers, alongside policies that address gender inequalities.
For smaller operators, the report recommends a gradual approach that reflects their circumstances. A business supporting basic household needs may require different assistance from an enterprise ready to expand. The aim is to make formal operations viable while improving working conditions.
The researchers acknowledge gaps in available evidence, including outdated official statistics and limited data on informal work. Their findings nevertheless point to the need for tourism policies that connect economic growth with more secure livelihoods.
