Find Tourism and Travel partners in Saint Lucia

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the total contribution of travel and tourism to Saint Lucia’s GDP was 42.5% in 2011. As a result of this, the World Travel and Tourism Council estimated that Saint Lucia ranked 12th out of 181 countries for the relative contribution of tourism to the national economy, above the world average by 28.5%. The sector is a major employer and accounts for over 42.2% of total employment, a figure which is set to rise over the coming decade.

It is estimated that in 2022, 45,000 people will be employed in travel and tourism (WTTC). Visitor exports generate around 59.1% of total exports which is also forecast to increase (2011, WTTC estimate). In 2010 Saint Lucia received 306,000 tourists.

The Saint Lucia Tourist Board is a government statutory authority working under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation which promotes tourism internationally. The main source markets are in Europe, particularly the UK, and North America. Saint Lucia is marketed as a destination for couples and families alike with many award winning resorts and a growing wedding and honeymoon industry. Successful attractions of the country’s tourism industry include wildlife, landscapes, leisure pursuits and ecotourism. Cultural tourism is also being promoted under the Cultural Heritage Programme which concentrates on historical and natural features of the island including the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a world heritage site.

In 2011 investment in the travel and tourism was XCD188.3mn, constituting 27.2% of total investment. This was expected to rise by 2.7% in 2012, and then continue to rise by 3.7% pa over the following ten years, reaching XCD278.8mn by 2022.