The sub-regional state prominently featured its notable tourism growth, trade prospects, and rich cultural heritage as essential elements of its exhibition.
A high-ranking delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire and Sunita Daniel, Chief Executive Officer of Export Saint Lucia (ESL), ensured significant representation.
Ahead of Saint Lucia’s National Day celebrations, Dr. Hilaire addressed a packed press conference, confidently highlighting the island’s remarkable tourism recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic. He confirmed strong arrivals from the United States and promising growth from Asia.
“We have consistently seen increased arrivals, especially from the United States post-COVID, and we are also witnessing impressive growth from China and other Asian markets,” the Tourism Minister asserted.
“While distance poses a challenge, the rising number of visitors journeying from far markets like Japan is encouraging,” he added.
Dr. Hilaire emphasized the long-standing partnership between Saint Lucia and Japan, declaring Japan as “an integral development partner” that has provided vital infrastructure support, capacity building, and volunteer exchange programs since Saint Lucia’s independence.
“We take immense pride in this relationship and are deeply grateful for Japan’s outstanding contributions,” he stated. “It is always inspiring to meet Japanese volunteers in Saint Lucia who embrace our culture so profoundly that many even speak French. This reflects the depth of the people-to-people exchanges we’ve nurtured over the years.”
On the global platform, Dr. Hilaire identified sports and sports tourism as defining features of Saint Lucian identity.
“The Caribbean is renowned for its sprinting excellence, and Saint Lucia is a prime example. We are proud of Julien Alfred, from my own constituency, who is not only an Olympic champion but also poised to excel at the upcoming World Championships,” he confidently asserted.
The tourism minister emphasized that Saint Lucia, historically recognized as the Caribbean’s romance capital, is now carving out its identity as a hub for sports and adventure tourism.
Alongside tourism, Sunita Daniel, ESL’s CEO, showcased the island’s broader economic agenda, underscoring Saint Lucia’s readiness to expand trade, investment, and cultural exports. She highlighted that the island’s offerings extend well beyond tourism, pointing to its rising exports of sea moss, premium rums, chocolates, pepper sauces, condiments, and creative works, all gaining international acclaim.
“Japan is a significant market for seaweed, and Saint Lucia proudly stands as one of the leading exporters of sea moss, a super-food boasting 92 of the 102 nutrients the body requires,” Daniel explained.
CEO Daniel also called on Expo attendees to participate in Saint Lucia’s upcoming cultural and business events, including a business forum, fashion show, and the highly anticipated “Rhythms of Iyanola” concert, which will showcase the island’s vibrant music, dance, and stilt-walking traditions at Osaka’s National Day Hall on Saturday evening.
Her vision was clear: to present Saint Lucia not just as a prime tourism destination but as a vibrant hub of creativity, commerce, and cultural exchange.
“Saint Lucia may be a small island, but we exert an outsize impact on the world stage,” Daniel emphasized. In summary, the ESL’s CEO affirmed, “We seamlessly combine world-class tourism, sporting excellence, and cultural vibrancy while driving forward a definitive vision for export growth and international partnerships.”
Brand Saint Lucia successfully united global leaders, investors, and partners at the Business Forum during Expo 2025 Osaka. The Forum highlighted unparalleled opportunities in tourism, trade, investment, and citizenship pathways, showcasing the strength and innovation of the island’s industries.
This milestone underscores Saint Lucia’s increasing global presence and its unwavering commitment to expanding trade and fostering robust international partnerships.