For Tourism Minister Hilaire, the government is committed to ensuring that locals profit more from the billion-dollar tourism industry. The passage of the Tourism Development Act in September of last year is expected to drive what Hilaire describes as a “people-centred” approach to tourism development in the country. For instance, the legislation provides avenues for additional incentives for investors who increase the wages of workers.

“Who owns the beaches, the hills, the rivers, the waterfalls?  Saint Lucia owns it. So, who should get the most from tourism in the country? Saint Lucians. But if we don't own, how can we make money and enjoy the most? If we don't start owning it, all we'll be doing is working in hotels, working in sites, working in attractions. We must start owning it and Saint Lucia,” he said.

Hilaire also praised the continued growth of Saint Lucia’s tourism sector, attributing much of its recent success to the robust U.S. market. Hilaire emphasised that while markets such as Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean are experiencing a decrease in the number of visitors to Saint Lucia, the U.S. remains a dominant source of visitor arrivals.

“The U.S. as a source market is driving our numbers in Saint Lucia right now. It’s a similar case with Saint Lucia; we are seeing a slowdown for Canada, for Europe, and for the Caribbean as well. The U.S. is driving, so we need a heavy presence in the U.S,” he said.

Saint Lucian expats are also intended to benefit from local investment opportunities, as the government has outlined that legislation will be brought to parliament to facilitate investments by the diaspora.