SAINT LUCIA (CU)_Saint Lucia sent representatives to the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) 2022 annual conference, which took place in the Cayman Islands from September 11 to September 15. In order to improve the tourism industry and member states, CTO members gathered for the annual conference to discuss and plan important initiatives.
The Hon. Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Minister of Tourism for Saint Lucia, was in charge of the mission. Lorine Charles-St. Jules, the president and CEO of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, was with him. The delegation took part in CTO Business Meetings, a Grand Cayman familiarization tour, and a Destination Briefing to local and international media.
Sustainable Airlift is still a key component of Saint Lucia’s growth strategy for the country’s tourism industry.
The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority’s Airlift Committee, led by Paul Collymore and Research and Development Manager Roselieu Augustin, attended the Caribbean Aviation Day seminar on September 14 as part of the CTO conference, which was held by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Discussions of the sector’s possibilities and problems, the region’s economic recovery, and maximizing the advantages of aviation in the Caribbean were high on the agenda.
With expanded non-stop flights from Toronto (YYZ) via Sunwing, Air Canada, and WestJet, Saint Lucia—which has reached 80% of its overall recovery compared to 2019—expects a strong autumn tourist season.
Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Miami, New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia continue to provide service from the United States. On October 31, Virgin Atlantic will resume service from Heathrow (LHR) in London, and British Airways and TUI will continue to provide nonstop airlift from Gatwick (LGW).
Charles-St Jules gained additional experience in tourism leadership during the Conference when she was elected as one of the newest Board of Directors for the Caribbean Tourism Organization. She will hold the newly created position until 2024.
The Regional Tourism Youth Congress, a fun aspect of the yearly conference, is a two-round tournament between Junior Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism from the region.
Jassie Thomas, 15, a student at Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School in Saint Lucia, competed against nine other junior ministers by giving a speech on the theme of “Community Based Tourism.”
The 2022 CTO conference strengthened Saint Lucia’s stance on the ongoing improvement of its environmentally friendly airlift and targeted marketing plan for the island’s tourism industry.
