St. Lucia Simply Beautiful

November 20th, 2016

There is never a dull moment in the isles of the Caribbean, of which St. Lucia is chief. St. Lucia continues to lead in the Less Developed States under the banner of the OECS. The Bible speaks to this fact – that a little child shall lead them. St. Lucia is a remarkable island nation with potentials that are just reaching the surface, aiming for the top of the Pitons, our World Heritage Site.

In every commentary on tourism that I have read, the friendliness of the people of St. Lucia stands out. As a result, we have a tourism product that is sought after. St. Lucia ranked as the top Honeymoon Destination for a number of years. The room stock will increase substantially in 2017 with expansion of existing hotels and establishment of new ones. The Sandals Group is doing a fantastic job in promoting St. Lucia with their theme – “Love is all you need”.

There are many developments within the tourism sector. The Tourist Board is slated to become an Authority.  The top executives are no longer on the job and restructuring is currently taking place under the administration of Mrs. Agnes Francis, someone who is not new to the industry. Honourable Dominic Fedee, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Tourism, and former executive of Sandals Resorts is bringing his experiences with one of the top hotel chains in the world to bear on his decisions.  We will await the final position on the way forward in this vital industry. Our economic future at least for now relies heavily on TOURISM for its survival. Tourism is our main export earner.

While tourism heavily depends upon Foreign Direct Investors, our local investors in the sector are rising to meet the challenges of the industry and taking their place at the table. The Fond Doux Plantation & Resort property in Soufriere recently received an Experts’ Choice Award for 2016 from TripExpert, which rates hotels and restaurants around the world based on reviews from journalists and professional travel writers. This is an Eco Friendly property situated on the west coast.

Employment in the Tourism sector will expand as additional rooms and new   properties come on stream. The Government is forging ahead with plans to ensure that well trained staff is readily available to meet the employment needs of hoteliers – existing and new.

The St. Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association (SLHTA) is expanding its mandate and in recent years has embarked on a number of new initiatives. You can check out their progress on line at www.slhta.com

I received a phone call from a friend of mine who owns a restaurant just moments before I commenced writing this article. He promised to send me an email which he did almost immediately. He shared with me an invitation (all expenses paid) he received from the owner of a new restaurant in Australia which is scheduled to be opened mid December, 2016. The menu of this little restaurant in Gros Islet, St. Lucia will be highlighted on the menu of the new restaurant in Australia. The restaurant is situated in an area frequented by cruise ships, and based on the level of publicity planned for the exposure of St. Lucian cuisine, the tourism sector can benefit from the additional publicity. It can be a Win, Win, Win situation. This simple achievement attests to the quality of the culinary skills available in St. Lucia.

St. Lucia nice! St. Lucia Simply Beautiful! You are welcome to visit our beautiful island and engage in whatever activities that you choose, whether as Tourists, Investors, or Retirees seeking a place for your retirement or a combination of interests – an enjoyable, productive and peaceful future awaits you.

Anyone who is serious about sharing information about their company in today’s business environment does so primarily by utilising Social Media and Website promotions. My intention is to introduce a website each week that offers something of value to my readers. In this issue, I introduce you to Mr. Neil Verdant, Managing Director of G.I. Business Directory. Information about his business can be accessed at www.gibusinessdirectory.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gibusinessdirectory  This website offers small business persons a platform for Directory Listing, Training, Sales Expo and Partner Discounts.            The Directory Listing can be a great resource for tourists visiting the North of the island.

Continuing in the spirit of observing Business Month, 2016, the 9^th Annual Saint Lucia – Taiwan Trade Show is being held at the Johnson’s Centre in Rodney Bay from Friday 25^th to Sunday 27^th November, 2016. Local manufacturers and artisans will be given an opportunity to showcase their products, just in time for the holidays.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers, and do have a safe one!

Remember always to Keep the Faith, knowing that God is in Charge – Dream Big and Expect Miracles!

Edward Harris

Biblicist, Author/Publisher, Business Consultant, Realtor, Networker, CSR/Small Business Advocate & Motivational Speaker Email: jobfreelife72@yahoo.com Website: www.stluciasimplybeautiful.com Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/edharrisbiz

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