The United Workers Party (UWP) is questioning the recent declaration that Saint Lucia’s tourism sector is “booming” following strong visitor arrival figures during the first four months of 2026.
While acknowledging the warm hospitality extended to every visitor and recognizing the encouraging performance recorded thus far, the UWP believes the Minister’s celebration is premature and risks painting an incomplete picture of the realities facing many tourism stakeholders.
In a statement to THE VOICE, UWP’s Leader of Business in the Senate, Dominic Fedee, noted that although Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire pointed to 2019 as a benchmark—claiming that Saint Lucia has now surpassed certain pre-pandemic arrival figures—he failed to mention that many Caribbean destinations exceeded their 2019 performance years ago
“Saint Lucia is among the last destinations in the region to recover beyond pre-COVID levels,” Fedee stated, emphasizing that this achievement should be viewed as a welcome step forward, not as evidence that the work is complete.
Fedee expressed surprise at the Minister’s enthusiasm, especially considering that under his stewardship, Saint Lucia recorded a decline in overall visitor arrivals in 2025, with cruise arrivals falling by 7.7 percent and total visitor arrivals declining by more than 5 percent.
“This backdrop requires caution and humility,” Fedee said. “Instead, the Minister has chosen to take a victory lap when the year is not yet half over.”
He stressed that tourism should not be judged by a single month or by the first four months of a year; rather, it should be evaluated based on sustained performance over twelve months and the extent to which growth translates into meaningful economic benefits for ordinary Saint Lucians.
“Unfortunately, many front-line workers in the industry express concerns that deviate sharply from the Minister’s optimism,” he added.
Fedee cited concerns from taxi drivers and tour operators regarding an unusually abrupt transition from peak season to slower months.
Small hotels, guesthouses, villa operators, and Airbnb hosts are increasingly apprehensive about advanced bookings for the summer months. He also highlighted worries among businesses operating at the country’s principal cruise terminal, Pointe Seraphine.
Fedee stated, “Most troubling of all is the outlook for cruise tourism.” He pointed out that SLASPA’s published cruise schedule indicates significantly reduced cruise activity during much of the off-season.
“Historically, even during quieter months, cruise ships continued to arrive frequently enough to sustain vendors, taxi operators, tour guides, craft sellers, restaurants, and other small businesses. Today, many stakeholders fear that the months ahead may be among the most challenging in recent memory,” he said.
Fedee reiterated that this is why the Minister’s declaration of a “booming” tourism sector feels hollow for those working in the industry. “The Minister sees arrival statistics; tourism stakeholders see reservation books, passenger counts, daily sales, and monthly bills,” he noted. “While the Minister may celebrate a record April, tourism stakeholders are worried about August.”
Consequently, the UWP believes that tourism success should be measured not just by the number of arrivals “at our airports and ports but by whether those arrivals translate into sustainable livelihoods for the thousands of Saint Lucians who depend on the industry.”
In closing, Fedee commented on the phrase, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
He stated, “The real test of the Minister’s stewardship will not be whether April was strong, but whether Saint Lucia can sustain tourism growth throughout the remainder of 2026 and whether that growth reaches the vendors, taxi drivers, tour operators, guesthouse owners, and small businesses who form the backbone of our tourism industry.”